The Trump administration has terminated its funding for the joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS, known as UNAIDS, delivering a devastating blow to the global fight against the disease.

This recent move by the administration marks the latest effort to end American involvement in life-saving health and anti-poverty programs around the world. Peter Marocco, a Trump loyalist, is leading the charge in eliminating US overseas aid through USAID.

Marocco stated in a letter to UNAIDS that the funding termination was “for the convenience of the US government” and was made “for alignment with agency priorities and national interest.”

The Trump administration’s funding freeze on foreign assistance has already caused havoc on HIV treatment programs worldwide, affecting 55 different countries.

Before the funding freeze, the US government was responsible for two-thirds of all international financing for HIV prevention in low- and middle-income countries. Much of it was funded through the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), which has financed about 70% of the global Aids response.

Countries heavily dependent on financial support from Washington for the fight against HIV/AIDS include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, and Haiti.

A study commissioned by the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation estimates that up to 500,000 people could die in South Africa over the next decade as a result of the US funding cuts. Additionally, a further 500,000 new infections may occur due to the discontinuation of USAid grants to South African health groups.

Linda-Gail Bekker, the foundation’s Director, sadly stated, “We will see lives lost.”

Trump initially launched an attack on foreign assistance, resulting in a total funding freeze. However, a 1 February waiver allowed some life-saving care and services, including preventing mother-to-child transmission, to resume.

Despite the waiver, confusion and a sporadic flow of aid have already caused widespread suffering. The new cut in funds to UNAIDS, which operates in 70 countries, will likely add to the devastation.

Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of UNAIDS, stated on social media that the organization has received reports from 55 countries experiencing disruptions in their HIV responses due to the US foreign aid pause. She warned that any reduction in funding could severely disrupt lifesaving prevention programs, risking new infections and reversing progress to end AIDS.

The UN has reported a near-total collapse of services in Ivory Coast since the funding freeze began. US programs had provided life-saving help to 85% of the 265,000 people living with HIV in the country.

The initial funding freeze led to a complete shutdown of services. Since the waiver was introduced, most US-funded HIV-prevention services for people at the highest risk of infection remain closed.