SLF Statement on U.S. “Stop-Work” Orders

We at the Stephen Lewis Foundation are appalled by the freeze on U.S. international assistance funding and the “stop-work” orders issued to The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding recipients. 

Clinics, organizations and hospitals have been told they can’t even distribute the live-saving medications they already have in stock if those medications were purchased with U.S. funds.  

This means that every day, hundreds of thousands of people, including children, will not receive their anti-retroviral treatment which keeps AIDS at bay and stops further transmissions of HIV. It means people will die. 

While an “Emergency Humanitarian” waiver has been released, allowing for the distribution of “life-saving medicines,” antiretroviral treatment (ART) has not resumed as there has been no official clarification that this would include the distribution of antiretroviral medicines (ARVs) during the 90-day freeze on U.S. international assistance and their review of all foreign aid. 

We extend our heartfelt solidarity to everyone affected by this disastrous and murderous decision made by the Trump administration. 

The “stop-work” orders continue to cause chaos, confusion and denial of essential services. The lack of clear direction in the waiver leaves much to interpretation, meaning access to services may resume in some places and not others. Much important life-saving work may not be interpreted as such by the U.S. government and therefore not seen as included in this waiver. 

Without a full reauthorization of funding for PEPFAR without restrictions, people will continue to acquire HIV and people will continue to get sick with AIDS-related illnesses and die. We are on the precipice of a renewed AIDS pandemic. 

In addition to the lack of clarity on the resumption of ART, there is no clarity that it allows for HIV testing, which means that people who might have otherwise been tested and started on ART will live with the virus undetected. This puts them and their partners at risk.  

People who use ARVs as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to prevent transmission may not receive their medicines if it is falsely seen to fall out of the “core life-saving medicines and medical services” allowance. Pregnant people who would be tested as part of their antenatal care may not be tested and, if need be, started on ARVs for their own health and to stop the transmission of the virus to their babies. 

We have assured our community-led partners that they have complete flexibility with their Stephen Lewis Foundation funding to pivot their programs to meet the most urgent needs in their communities. 

We call on everyone who has the means to give to organizations that are supporting the global HIV response with flexible funding. And we ask everyone everywhere — individuals, foundations, faith-based communities, the private sector and governments — to raise a collective cry for U.S. decision makers to permanently end this cruel and harmful policy. 

*For media, this statement can be attributed to Meg French, Executive Director, Stephen Lewis Foundation