Aid cuts did not hit HIV treatment as hard as feared.

Preliminary U.S. figures and other data suggest global HIV treatment levels remained close to pre-2025 levels despite a U.S. pause in foreign aid, while testing, prevention and many support services declined.

Many U.S.-funded global health projects were paused in January 2025, stopping salaries for community health workers and disrupting some program operations. In several countries, community health workers continued unpaid outreach to keep people living with HIV on treatment. Preliminary U.S. data briefly posted online, and other sources, indicate the number of people on HIV treatment returned to roughly pre-disruption levels. At the same time, testing, prevention and peer-support services appear to have fallen and data reporting has been limited. Key facts: - The State Department said treatment levels at the end of the 2025 reporting period were roughly the same as a year earlier and attributed apparent declines to temporary reporting challenges; it said regular reporting will resume when data are verified. - Preliminary figures showed a small net decline among the more than 20 million people the U.S. supports on HIV treatment, including a March dip followed by a rebound to near previous levels. - Separate measures of prevention and support fell: reported HIV testing and counseling supported by U.S. funds dropped from over 80 million to just under 70 million, and several prevention and peer-support programs were paused or ended. Summary: Treatment numbers appear largely maintained despite the U.S. aid pause, aided by resumed life-saving shipments, national efforts and unpaid work by community health workers. Data release has been limited and preliminary, and the State Department says it will resume regular reporting once figures are confirmed.