A letter, drafted by ONE Campaign and The 2030 Collaborative and signed by prominent country music stars, calls on Congress to continue funding PEPFAR. The letter warns that cutting funds could reverse decades of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS and implicitly criticizes moves by President Donald Trump’s administration and associated figures, framing the issue as a stand against authoritarian policy tendencies.

PEPFAR, the U.S. government's global HIV/AIDS initiative, faced a funding freeze under a Trump Administration executive order. Although a waiver allowed for the resumption of critical HIV services, many vital programs for girls, young women, orphans, and vulnerable children remain suspended.

A recently published study and accompanying news report detail that termination orders for USAID-funded PEPFAR implementing partners have led to staff layoffs and the imminent closure of critical HIV programs, potentially resulting in hundreds of thousands of additional HIV-related deaths and infections, particularly in South Africa. The cuts, driven by politically motivated decisions and backed by controversial reports, risk reversing decades of global health progress.

PEPFAR's latest short-term reauthorization extends its operation until March 25, 2025 and includes legislative updates on funding authorizations, spending directives, and oversight measures. This reauthorization is notable amid concerns about ongoing Trump administration actions affecting global health, and it ensures continued support for HIV/AIDS relief efforts.

PEPFAR has been credited with saving 26 million lives and drastically reducing antiretroviral treatment costs in low‐ and middle‐income countries. The program has maintained transparency by reporting internal investigations and enforcing funding guidelines despite facing severe funding freezes and political interference due to executive orders.

On January 17, 2025, PEPFAR issued a statement detailing measures taken against one of its partners in Mozambique following a violation of U.S. abortion-related restrictions. The enforcement action, coordinated by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy, underscores efforts to ensure partner adherence to these controversial guidelines.

An investigation revealed that PEPFAR-funded service providers in Mozambique conducted 21 abortions in apparent violation of U.S. restrictions on abortion-related services. The findings, presented to congressional committees, have ignited fierce Republican criticism and threatened the program’s long-term reauthorization, despite its longstanding record in saving lives from HIV/AIDS.