The Trump administration has initiated a halt in the supply of critical medications for HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and essential medical supplies for newborns in countries supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), according to a memo obtained by sources.
On Tuesday, contractors and partners collaborating with USAID began receiving directives to cease operations immediately. This action is part of a broader freeze on U.S. foreign aid and funding implemented since President Trump took office on January 20, pending a review of programs.
One such memo was sent to Chemonics, a major U.S. consulting firm that partners with USAID to distribute medications for various health conditions globally. The memo reportedly affects the firm’s work on HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, contraception, and maternal and child health supplies, according to a current USAID source and a former agency official.
“This is catastrophic,” said Atul Gawande, former head of global health at USAID, who left the agency earlier this month. “Donated drug supplies that keep 20 million people living with HIV alive—that stops today.”
Chemonics and USAID have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Disruptions in treatment for these diseases could lead to patients becoming ill and, in the case of HIV, increase the risk of transmitting the virus to others. Additionally, drug-resistant strains of diseases may emerge as a result, Gawande warned.
He added that other partners have also received notices preventing them from delivering medications to clinics, even if the supplies are already in stock, or from operating clinics funded by the U.S. This includes organizations supporting 6.5 million orphans and vulnerable children with HIV across 23 countries.
On January 20, the day of his inauguration, President Trump ordered a 90-day pause on foreign development assistance to evaluate the efficiency and alignment of these programs with U.S. foreign policy. Additionally, approximately 60 senior career officials at USAID were placed on administrative leave, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The administration’s actions jeopardize billions of dollars in life-saving aid from the world’s largest donor. In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. allocated $72 billion in assistance, accounting for 42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations in 2024. The freeze has raised significant concerns about the immediate and long-term impact on global health initiatives and vulnerable populations reliant on this support.
