PEPFAR has saved 25 million lives around the globe and is considered George W. Bush's greatest achievement. Donald Trump has left its future in doubt.

On Friday, a memorandum signed by Marco Rubio called for a 90-day cessation of foreign aid. That would likely put on hold the work of PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, provides billions in funding to organizations to combat HIV.

The United States has approved an emergency humanitarian waiver allowing continued access to HIV treatment funded by the U.S. across 55 countries worldwide including Kenya. On January 29, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio authorized the waiver,

"For now, all HIV/AIDS programmes continue. As the South African government, we want to emphasize that nobody must stop taking ARVs because that would be devastating," Motsoaledi said.

PEPFAR, a $7.5 billion initiative established in 2003, has provided HIV care to millions worldwide. The recent suspension of the program raised concerns about the potential loss of access to HIV medications for more than 20 million people.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s order to pause nearly all foreign aid has halted funding to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), an African HIV-prevention program launched by President George W. Bush in 2003 that has saved over 25 million lives.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio allowed the continued distribution of HIV medications in the 55 countries supported by the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief. However, it remains unclear whether the waiver includes preventive drugs or other critical services.

The Trump administration has said that foreign assistance programs will be paused for three months as it reviews how money is being spent.

The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has approved an “Emergency Humanitarian Waiver”, which will allow people to continue accessing HIV treatment funded by the US across 55 countries worldwide.

In Nigeria, PEPFAR remains a major contributor to the treatment of People Living with HIV, covering approximately 90 per cent of the country's treatment needs