Dear Friend —

Amidst cruelty and chaos, I have been inspired by how our team at Health GAP has resisted the Trump administration’s attacks on the global AIDS response, on the rights of our communities, and on science itself. 

From the time when PEPFAR funding freezes were announced in January up to when Trump canceled World AIDS Day in December, over 11 months, we fought back.

We delivered a mountain of coffins to the State Department. We occupied the Rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building, We blocked traffic at the White House and blocked the doors of hearing rooms in Congress. We zapped top officials directly responsible for deadly funding cuts (including Pete Marocco, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, HHS Secretary RFK, Jr.—and more). We confronted Heritage Foundation operatives testifying before Congress. 

Advocacy has made Trump’s attacks on life-saving HIV programs a global news story that will not go away. Our pressure has had an impact. Here are just a few examples of what we have done:  

-> Protected PEPFAR from deadly White House spending cuts: After multiple protests and a grassroots education campaign, PEPFAR was the only program protected with bipartisan Congressional rejection of $400 million in rescission cuts. Unsurprisingly, Trump continues his attempt to secretly withhold PEPFAR funding, but we are not backing down. 

-> Brought focus to community-designed priorities to rebuild HIV services across 14 countries most affected by PEPFAR cuts: Trump disproportionately targeted HIV programs for LGBTQ+ people, sex workers and people who use drugs. We supported efforts to demand re-investment in those programs, starting with a grassroots planning process highlighting services with the greatest potential for impact.

-> Fought for game changing HIV prevention tools for all: Lenacapavir, the revolutionary twice-yearly injectable for HIV PrEP, holds incredible promise. Trump plans little more than a series of pilot programs that will have virtually no effect—a “whimper and not a roar,” as we recently told the New York Times. But even this flawed U.S. plan only came about because of advocacy. 

-> Supported rapid community-led monitoring to generate undeniable evidence of the cost of PEPFAR cuts in South Africa, where HIV service quality and access have rapidly deteriorated. Led by TAC, CLM data are being used to demand action to fill funding gaps.

Meanwhile, new threats are on the horizon: Trump wants to make U.S. aid conditional on groups opposing gender diversity, which would undermine PEPFAR’s impact. And Rubio is signing 5-year deals with African governments that contain dangerous conditions and steep cuts to PEPFAR funding without transparency or Congressional oversight. 

But this Administration will not be in power forever. In 2026 we will be developing demands of the next Administration around HIV and pandemics, so we are ready to advance ambition and innovation rooted in the priorities of communities most affected by HIV.  

Your tax-deductible, year-end gift supports our global AIDS activism. Can we count on you? Donate today at act.healthgap.org/donate or by mail: Health Global Access Project, Inc., 276 Fifth Ave, 704-2129, New York, NY 10001. 

Thank you for including Health GAP in your end of year giving plans. Your generous contribution is fully tax-deductible and powers our efforts to win health justice for all. 

In solidarity, 

Amanda Lugg 
Chair, Board of Directors
Health GAP
https://act.healthgap.org/