Contact: Natalie Shure, natalie.shure@treatmentactiongroup.org

New York, NY, February 26, 2025 – The ACT NOW: END AIDS Coalition (ANEA) and Treatment Action Group (TAG) are proud to stand in solidarity with activists demonstrating today at the U.S. Capitol demanding that the U.S. government restore full funding to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) — which supports treatment for 20 million people living with HIV worldwide, and 2.5 million people on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) — and all recently cut or frozen U.S. supported international health programs.

PEPFAR funding has been frozen^[1] by a series of executive orders and — in spite of a much-hyped waiver issued by the State Department — remains^[2] frozen^[3] in most countries and at most sites around the world. A recent scientific analysis suggests that the 90-day freeze is likely to result in over 109,000 deaths over the coming year.^[4]

Today’s demonstration — which includes non-violent civil disobedience — is organized by HealthGAP, Housing Works, and ACT UP/New York, with TAG — includes hundreds of activists from these and other organizations and is supported by a large cohort of recently and unjustly terminated U.S. international aid workers.

ANEA Director De’Ashia Lee said, “The ANEA Coalition, which includes community-based organizations and health department partners around the U.S. working together to end AIDS in the hardest hit counties and states, is proud to stand together with all communities struggling to end the HIV pandemic. When the government fails to uphold the health and dignity of millions of people living with HIV around the world, we have a duty to disrupt business as usual. PEPFAR saves lives every day, and ending the freeze is a matter of equity and health justice.”

Riko Boone, TAG HIV Project Director said, “The world will pay a heavy price if PEPFAR funding is not fully restored. We must assure that the lives of all people with HIV and receiving treatment through PEPFAR programs are saved, and that their communities are protected from HIV by restoring coverage for PrEP, adolescent and young women’s programs, and services for orphans and vulnerable children. Not only does the wholesale stoppage of PEPFAR’s critical work jeopardize domestic and global goals of HIV prevention and treatment, it also undermines decades of progress that we’ve already made toward controlling the HIV pandemic, including within the U.S.”

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^[1] Mandavilli A. Trump administration halts HIV drug distribution in poor countries. New York Times [Internet]. 2025 Jan 27. Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/health/pepfar-trump-freeze.html.

^[2] Demirgian J, Crowley M, Wong E, Nolen S. Lifesaving aid remains halted worldwide despite Rubio’s promise. New York Times [Internet]. 2025 Feb 12. Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/us/politics/usaid-waivers-rubio.html.

^[3] Mandavilli A. Foreign aid freeze leaves millions without HIV treatment. New York Times [Internet]. 2025 Feb 5. Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/health/trump-usaid-pepfar.html.

^[4] Tram KH, Ratevosian J, Beyrer C. By executive order: The likely deadly consequences associated with a 90-day pause in PEPFAR funding. Journal of the International AIDS Society 2025, 28:e26431 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jia2.26431/full.