What does PEPFAR’s future look like in the Trump administration?

What does PEPFAR’s future look like in the Trump administration?

From Consider This from NPR by NPR

April 20, 2026 · 9 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the future of PEPFAR under the Trump administration and its impact on HIV care globally.

PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, has saved 26 million lives since President George W. Bush launched the program in 2003. But the Trump administration has made major changes to the way the U.S. distributes foreign aid, disrupting HIV care — and leaving many health workers uncertain about the future of PEPFAR. What do those changes to foreign assistance mean for the fight against HIV and AIDS around the world? Host Juana Summers speaks with Dr. Deborah Birx, who once was the U.S. global AIDS coordinator in charge of PEPFAR. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for C onsider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org . Email us at considerthis@npr.org . This episode was produced by Vincent Acovino and Karen Zamora. It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon and Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

People in this episode

Host: Juana Summers

Guest: Dr. Deborah Birx

Topics covered

  • PEPFAR
  • HIV/AIDS
  • foreign aid
  • Trump administration
  • health care
  • global health

Keywords

  • PEPFAR
  • HIV
  • AIDS
  • foreign assistance
  • Trump administration
  • health workers
  • global health

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PEPFAR, Trump administration, NPR, Apple Podcasts, NPR Privacy Policy

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