She noted that American funding constituted about 35% of UNAIDS' core budget last year, but its future remains uncertain as discussions with the U.S. government continue.

If U.S. funding is not restored, AIDS-related deaths could rise to levels seen during the peak of the AIDS pandemic, reversing 25 years of progress in combating the disease.

Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, has issued a stark warning that cuts to U.S. funding could lead to an alarming increase of 2,000 new HIV infections daily and over six million deaths in the next four years.

The UN has raised concerns about a potential resurgence of the AIDS pandemic globally, attributing this risk to a halt in U.S. foreign aid funding.

This funding pause was initiated by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, as part of a broader review of government spending, initially set for 90 days.

Byanyima emphasized that the current trajectory could see HIV/AIDS deaths spike to levels reminiscent of the 1990s and 2000s, a tenfold increase from the 600,000 deaths recorded in 2023.

Byanyima has urged Trump to reconsider these funding cuts, framing the restoration of the PEPFAR initiative as a mutually beneficial deal that could save lives while generating profits.

The funding pause has resulted in stop-work orders for HIV treatment and prevention programs, leading to the closure of clinics and shortages of anti-retroviral medicines in Africa.

Byanyima shared the story of Juliana, a Kenyan woman living with HIV, who has lost her job and fears losing access to her treatment due to these funding cuts.

Concerns are mounting that no other nation can fill the funding gap left by the U.S., especially as European donors are also planning cuts to reallocate funds to defense and other priorities.

Byanyima highlighted lenacapavir, a new drug developed by Gilead, as a potential game-changer that could significantly reduce new infections through biannual injections.

Byanyima has called for the White House to reverse the funding pause, emphasizing the urgent need for continued support to prevent a public health crisis.