Trump’s aid cuts disrupt South African HIV vaccine trials

|Published 11:00 AM ET, Tuesday February 18, 2025|

Johannesburg, SA: South African researchers have been making significant strides in developing an HIV vaccine through the BRILLIANT program, a $45 million initiative funded entirely by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Utilizing cutting-edge mRNA technology and genetic sequences from HIV-positive South African patients, the team had achieved promising results in pre-clinical trials. However, recent policy changes under President Donald Trump’s administration have led to an abrupt halt in funding, effectively pausing these critical vaccine trials indefinitely.

The funding suspension is part of a broader freeze on U.S. foreign aid, initiated by executive orders aimed at reassessing international assistance in line with an “America First” policy. Specifically, aid to South Africa has been targeted due to political disagreements, including disputes over land reform policies and allegations of human rights violations against the white Afrikaner minority.

The cessation of USAID support has not only disrupted the BRILLIANT program but has also adversely affected various healthcare services across South Africa. Numerous clinics have been forced to close, and essential services for HIV and tuberculosis patients have been severely compromised. The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) has described the situation as an “unprecedented crisis,” emphasizing that the funding freeze is dismantling critical healthcare infrastructure and jeopardizing the lives of millions.

In response to these developments, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has asserted the nation’s sovereignty, stating that South Africa “will not be bullied” by external pressures. Despite the challenges posed by the withdrawal of U.S. aid, the South African government is exploring alternative funding sources to sustain its healthcare initiatives and continue the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The abrupt halt of the BRILLIANT program underscores the profound impact that shifts in international aid policies can have on global health research and the development of life-saving medical interventions.