A new survey released ahead of the AIDS 2026 meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, sheds light on the impact of disrupted funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief on programs it supports. The survey, conducted by amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, found that 1,700 HIV/AIDS service sites have closed.
According to the report, approximately 77,000 fewer children living with HIV received supported treatment in 2025 than in 2024.
Mitchell Warren, executive director of AVAC, a global HIV prevention advocacy organization, stated that people are not being tested and are falling out of treatment. Warren thinks they are beginning to see the enormity of bad decisions.
The U.S. State Department, which runs the program, disputed the amfAR survey results, saying the methodology used was flawed. It also stated that the decline in treated children was consistent with trends and reflected limitations in the data.
In an interview, Warren noted that the cuts and disruption have ended programs altogether. The good news is that the infrastructure is still in place. Programs are still there, but they are shaky at best.
Approximately 7,000 people are expected to attend the meeting in Rio, which starts tomorrow and ends on July 31. Warren said the scientific findings to be presented at the meeting won’t match the positive results for lenacapavir from the PURPOSE 1 trial reported two years ago in Munich.
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Warren pointed to two developments likely to dominate discussion at the conference: Merck’s investigational monthly oral pre-exposure prophylaxis pill, MK-8527, and a resurgence of interest in long-acting HIV treatment, specifically the positive results for the weekly islatravir-lenacapavir pill for HIV treatment.
Warren said the challenge is preparing for the rollout of a new prevention option like MK-8527 amid funding gaps already straining existing programs when the infrastructure is so wobbly.
The AIDS 2026 meeting will bring together experts and advocates to discuss the latest developments in HIV treatment and prevention. The meeting will also highlight the significant challenges that lie ahead, including the need to address funding gaps and ensure that existing programs are able to continue providing essential services.
The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has been a significant source of funding for HIV programs around the world. The disruption to this funding has had a major impact on the ability of these programs to provide services, including treatment and testing, which is a key aspect of treatment for related conditions.
They are working to find solutions to these challenges.
