WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s freeze on foreign aid and suspension of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is threatening HIV/AIDS prevention programs around the world. In particular, some advocacy groups warn the confusion around Trump’s orders is affecting the implementation of the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

PEPFAR was launched by President George W. Bush back in 2003 and is regarded as one of the most successful global health initiatives.

What You Need To Know

  • President Donald Trump's efforts to dissolve USAID and his pause on foreign aid has created some confusion and caused disruptions in the  implementation of PEPFAR

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio exempted PEPFAR from Trump’s pause on foreign assistance funding, but health advocacy groups say there has been some confusion and challenges resuming services on the ground
  • For two decades, PEPFAR has enjoyed bipartisan support, but in a recent radio interview, Rubio suggested the program should shrink over time
  • Global health advocates are urging the Trump administration to rescind the stop-work order because they believe it is also in America's national interest

More than 20 years ago, Bush launched PEPFAR to combat HIV and AIDS in more than 55 countries. PEPFAR is perhaps Bush’s signature foreign policy achievement, and today, it is credited with saving more than 26 million lives.

But PEPFAR partners warn there have been disruptions to its mission as the Trump administration tries to dissolve USAID.

USAID is one of the key agencies that coordinates and implements PEPFAR programs. That means some patients are not receiving life-saving, time-sensitive treatment, according to Asia Russell, executive director of the advocacy group Health GAP.

“PEPFAR’s impact on public health, on the standing of the U.S. around the world and as a standard bearer for how to do development right, couldn’t be clearer. What’s devastating and outrageous, frankly, is the harm, the deadly harm that’s coming from this stop-work order,” Russell told Spectrum News. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio exempted PEPFAR from Trump’s pause on foreign assistance funding, but health advocacy groups say there has been some confusion and challenges resuming services on the ground. 

For two decades, PEPFAR has enjoyed bipartisan support, but in a recent radio interview, Rubio suggested the program should shrink over time and some Texas Republicans say foreign aid still needs to align with the Trump administration’s priorities. 

“The best global health program ever implemented by the United States was PEPFAR. I’d hate to see that go away. It will sunset once we achieve the mission. However, programs like that, when you look at the national security, importance of USAID, need to be maintained,” said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, on CBS News’ Face the Nation. 

Russell is urging the Trump administration to rescind the stop-work order because she believes it is also in America’s national interest. 

“Science has given us powerful tools to combat HIV. Unlike other pandemics, we’re actually tantalizingly close to really defeating HIV once and for all, and creating this kind of sabotage and waste and human harm at a moment when the U.S. could be leading the way in showing what’s possible and coming to the end of the pandemic is unconscionable,” Russell said.

Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital have partnered on a global health network that provides AIDS relief services abroad. 

In a statement to Spectrum News, a Texas Children’s official said, “We are dedicated to providing every child and woman the best medical care. We continue to review and monitor the rapidly evolving new administration’s executive orders. As always, our focus is on delivering extraordinary care and advancing leading-edge research. While a new federal administration can bring change, our policies and procedures will continue to guide us as we uphold all Texas and U.S. laws.”