The Trump administration has made some concessions to the halt placed on distributions of global HIV treatments via the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), according to The New York Times.

The federal government has commended the United States for approving an ‘emergency humanitarian waiver’ that allows HIV treatment funded by the US government across 55 countries, including Nigeria.

But late last week, the State Department, led now by former Florida Senator Marco Rubio, issued a memo clarifying that the freeze includes current foreign assistance programs as well, including the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. Also affected is USAID, which will hamper global efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB).

In a last-minute move, the Trump administration issues an emergency waiver to ensure millions of people in 55 countries continue receiving life-saving HIV treatment.

The United States has approved an emergency humanitarian waiver allowing continued access to HIV treatment funded by the U.S. across 55 countries worldwide including Kenya. On January 29, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio authorized the waiver,

PEPFAR, a $7.5 billion initiative established in 2003, has provided HIV care to millions worldwide. The recent suspension of the program raised concerns about the potential loss of access to HIV medications for more than 20 million people.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of adverse consequences of the immediate suspension of funding for HIV programmes in Nigeria and other low- and middle-income countries under the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief  (PEPFAR) - a flagship initiative of the global HIV response established over 20 years ago.

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a federal program that provides HIV medications, is one of the programs on pause during a 90-day review ordered by the Secretary of State.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s order to pause nearly all foreign aid has halted funding to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), an African HIV-prevention program launched by President George W. Bush in 2003 that has saved over 25 million lives.

The action originates from President Trump’s executive order on foreign aid, which he signed on his first day in office last Monday.

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has provided life-saving treatment to tens of millions since it was established in 2003