US to End PEPFAR Funding in South Africa

The Trump administration plans to permanently end funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in South Africa, as confirmed by a State Department official and two congressional aides. The decision is attributed to South Africa's lack of progress on specific policy requests from the administration. The phased drawdown of PEPFAR programming is expected to conclude by early next year, with US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III scheduled to meet with South African health officials to communicate the decision. Since its inception, PEPFAR has allocated over $8 billion to South Africa, which has the highest number of people living with HIV globally, estimated at 8 million. While funding for healthcare workers will continue until 2027, program awards are set to wind down later this year. A Senate aide noted that the administration's justification for the funding cut includes unmet political conditions unrelated to health. The State Department official stated that PEPFAR was not intended to be a permanent program and that South Africa is capable of supporting its health initiatives. Relations between the US and South Africa have worsened during the Trump administration, with various political tensions noted. An expert has warned that the termination of PEPFAR funding could lead to significant negative health outcomes, including a potential resurgence of HIV.