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Trump Order to Halt Lifesaving HIV, Malaria Drug Supplies
The Trump administration has taken steps to halt the supply of essential drugs for HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and medical supplies for newborns in countries receiving support from USAID, according to a memo reviewed by Reuters.
On Tuesday, contractors and partners working with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) began receiving orders to immediately cease their operations. This move is part of a broader freeze on US foreign aid and funding implemented since President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, as the administration reviews ongoing programs.
One such memo was sent to Chemonics, a large US consulting firm that collaborates with USAID to supply critical medicines for various health conditions worldwide. The directive impacts the firm’s work on HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, contraception, and maternal and child health supplies, as confirmed by a USAID source and a former USAID official.
Atul Gawande, former head of global health at USAID, who recently left the agency, called the action "catastrophic," highlighting that millions of people depend on these life-saving drug supplies. "Donated drug supplies keeping 20 million people living with HIV alive. That stops today," Gawande stated.
Both Chemonics and USAID have yet to comment on the development.
The interruption of treatment for diseases such as HIV poses a grave risk, potentially leading to worsening health conditions, further transmission of the virus, and the emergence of drug-resistant strains, according to Gawande. He also mentioned that other partners had received similar notices, effectively preventing them from delivering medicines to clinics, even if stocks were available, or from operating clinics funded by the US.
These disruptions affect vital programs, including those working with 6.5 million orphans and vulnerable children living with HIV across 23 countries, Gawande said.
On January 20, Trump ordered a 90-day pause in foreign development assistance to assess program efficiency and ensure alignment with US foreign policy priorities. Additionally, about 60 senior USAID officials have been placed on leave, according to sources familiar with the situation.
The administration’s actions threaten billions of dollars in life-saving aid from the US, the world’s largest single donor. In fiscal year 2023, the US allocated $72 billion in foreign assistance, accounting for 42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations in 2024.