Hundreds of HIV doctors and researchers have issued a stark warning to the Trump administration, urging it to reverse sweeping cuts to international aid funding. They argue that these reductions are inflicting “catastrophic harm” on global health efforts, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Historically, the United States has been the largest donor of humanitarian aid worldwide. However, since President Donald Trump’s return to office less than two months ago, significant cuts to international aid have jeopardized critical programs targeting HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and other health challenges. Humanitarian organizations have raised alarms, warning that millions of lives are now at risk.
In an open letter addressed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, hundreds of prominent HIV doctors, researchers, and public health experts called for an immediate policy reversal. The letter cautioned that dismantling US-supported AIDS initiatives could result in the deaths of an estimated six million people over the next four years, erasing decades of progress and triggering new HIV epidemics globally.
The cuts have had a particularly devastating impact on PEPFAR, a highly successful anti-HIV initiative credited with saving approximately 26 million lives over two decades. According to the letter, PEPFAR has been “virtually eliminated” following Rubio’s announcement that 83% of USAID contracts have been terminated. The funding cuts have also disrupted medical trials worldwide, leaving participants without support, and have stripped research institutions of essential resources and independence.
The fallout has been severe. Johns Hopkins University, a leading research institution, announced on Thursday that it would lay off over 2,000 employees due to the funding reductions. Even if US courts eventually overturn these decisions, the letter emphasized that the current human suffering and loss of life cannot be undone.
Among the letter’s signatories is Nobel laureate Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, who was recognized for her groundbreaking work in identifying HIV. The letter was released during the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in San Francisco, where researchers gathered to discuss the crisis.
The Trump administration has defended the cuts as part of broader efforts to reduce government spending. Meanwhile, Trump’s advisor, billionaire Elon Musk, has controversially described the restructuring of USAID as putting it “through the woodchipper.”
Protests erupted across the United States last week, with demonstrators rallying under the banner “Stand Up for Science,” demanding the restoration of funding to critical health programs. As the global health community grapples with the consequences of these cuts, the call for action grows louder.
