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HIV Treatment Bulletin

AIDS 2026: Activists challenge US Government’s claims to manage PEPFAR

27 July 2026. Related: Conference reports, Treatment access, Activism & advocacy, .

A landscape rectangular graphic. Text reads, reports from AIDS 2026. On the left edge is a vertical strip of a photo of a Rio de Janeiro beach with mountains in the background. Next to this is a thinner vertical yellow strip with a light brown angular pattern running through it. This matches part of the artwork of the AIDS 2026 Conference roundel, which is to its right. The roundel is mainly medium and light green, with accents of yellow, light brown and dark blue. To the right of the roundel is the red AIDS ribbon, the International AIDS Society symbol. On the right of the graphic is a large digital drawing of a parrot, whose feathers are two shades of red and mint green. It is facing towards the centre of the graphic. Behind it is an asymmetrical, partial light green leaf, with a pattern of thick olive green bendy lines running through it. The background colour of the graphic is a gradient between light and dark green. The text is over the light green part, in black and royal blue.Simon Collins, HIV i-Base

On 26 July 2026, a community protest just ahead of the International AIDS conference highlighted the impact that the changes US funding policy have had on global health. [1]

Four Black people at a protest at the AIDS 2026 conference. One holds a sign that says, "End Trump's attacks on key populations. We will not be erased." Two hold signs that say, "Trump's cuts kill people with AIDS. Restore PEPFAR now." The three people holding signs are also shouting or chanting.

Protesters at AIDS 2026

The protest was led by activists from Health GAP who challenged the “turmoil caused by the Trump Administration’s unprecedented attacks on HIV funding, science and the human rights of people most affected by HIV”. [2]

Although the early morning meeting itself was poorly attended by delegates, giving a platform to the current US Administration had already drawn criticism from more than 100 community organisations who had signed on to an open letter to IAS the previous week. [3]

This letter highlighted that the theme of AIDS 2026 – “Rethink. Rebuild. Rise.” – was itself only needed because of the way in which the US Government had gone about changing policy.

As expected, the presentations after the protest attempted to justify current US policy as a progressive plan to support global responses to HIV. However, these were presented without supportive evidence, using the platform to report continued US support as a progressive way to restructure international aid.

It is unlikely that many in the audience were convinced, especially as two studies presented at AIDS 2026 as part of an early press conferAn action shot of protesters in front of delegates at the AIDS 2026 conference. The protesters are holding signs condemning Trump for PEPFAR and HIV funding cuts.ence included examples of the destructive impact of changes to PEPFAR funding.

The first reported results were of a survey of more than 150 implementing partners in 46 countries, who reported on the closure of more than 1700 health clinics and changes in provision that actively targeted people from key populations affected by HIV. Changes included more than 1 in 5 services reporting reduced access to ART or cancelled prevention programmes that withdrew access to condoms and PrEP. [4]

Protesters on stage at the AIDS 2026 conference, in profile.The second study described the changes in services to children living with HIV, which included reduced access to testing, monitoring and treatment for this group in 2025 compared to 2024. [5]

This included that PEPFAR provided ART to 77,000 fewer children last year, a likely direct impact of reduced testing and monitoring, reported in the CHAI Market Analysis report for June 2026. [6]

All abProtesters on stage at the AIDS 2026 conference, in profile.stracts from AIDS 2026 now appear to be accessible online, ahead of the previously reported Monday embargo.

References

  1. Transforming health assistance: Implementing U.S. government MOUs for sustainable HIV programs. Pre-conference satellite meeting. 26 Jul 2026, Rio de Janeiro.
  2. Health GAP. Activists Disrupt U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Jeff Graham at International AIDS Conference Protesting Trump’s Chokehold on Congressionally Appropriated HIV Funding Mass Closure of Key Population Programs and Attacks on Transparent Oversight of PEPFAR Programs. (26 July 2026).
    https://healthgap.org/press/activists-disrupt-u-s-global-aids-coordinator-jeff-graham-at-international-aids-conference-protesting-trumps-chokehold-on-congressionally-appropriated-hiv-funding-mass-closure-of-key-popul/
  3. Mattioli S. Open letter to the leadership of the International AIDS Society on the inclusion of the “America First Global Health Strategy” in the AIDS 2026 pre-conference programme.
    https://www.sandromattioli.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Open_Letter_IAS_AIDS2026_EN.pdf
  4. Lankiewicz E et al. Measuring PEPFAR disruptions at scale: Results from a 46-country implementing partner survey. Late-breaking oral abstract OAX1103LB.
    https://programme.aids2026.org/Abstract/Abstract/?abstractid=12711
  5. Godbole R et al. Shifts in PEPFAR-supported pediatric treatment: rapid analysis of fiscal year 2025 PEPFAR program data. Late-breaking oral abstract OAF2506LB.
    https://programme.aids2026.org/Abstract/Abstract/?abstractid=12679
  6. CHAI reports impact of cuts in HIV CD4 and viral load testing reduced PrEP: children fare worst. HTB (9 June 2026).
    https://i-base.info/htb/54042