State Department Releases PEPFAR Data Showing HIV Treatment Trends After Budget Cuts

The U.S. State Department released data on the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) on Friday, following a period without updates since January 2025. The program, launched in 2003 by former President George W. Bush, receives about $5 billion annually from the U.S. and supports HIV diagnosis, treatment, and prevention in 50 countries.

The release comes after a foreign aid freeze implemented by the Trump administration in 2025. State Department officials described the data as evidence of program resilience. Jeremy Lewin, acting undersecretary of state for foreign assistance, humanitarian affairs and religious freedom, stated at a public event that the numbers are very good and show how resilient health programs have been.

A State Department media note indicated that overall spending was cut by 30% while preserving critical frontline HIV care and eliminating other programs.

The data shows that PEPFAR supported HIV treatment for more than 20 million people as of the end of September 2025, a slight drop from the previous year. The number of pregnant and breastfeeding women starting preventive medication increased from 43,000 in the final quarter of 2024 to 103,000 in the final quarter of 2025.

Government statements emphasized efforts to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Outside analyses identified reductions in other areas. Asia Russell, executive director of Health GAP, stated that the data show a decline, including fewer people on HIV therapy than the year before.

Brian Honermann, deputy director of public policy at amfAR, reported that HIV diagnoses dropped by 13% in uninterrupted sites and nearly 30% in disrupted sites, with about 24% of frontline health workers no longer supported.

Data Context PEPFAR has historically released data quarterly, providing detailed information on its progress toward targets. The program is credited with saving 26 million lives through its initiatives. The 2025 aid freeze led to interruptions, including cancellations of services not deemed life-saving, such as community health worker outreach and peer-support groups.

Experts from amfAR and the International AIDS Society noted disruptions across service areas. Honermann added that the presented data may not fully reflect the extent of interruptions. In contrast, the State Department highlighted the continuation of essential services despite the budget changes.