The recent withdrawal of U.S. funding for global health agencies and the restriction on certain terminologies has its severe impact on global efforts on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and to end AIDS as a threat to public health by 2030 as definedas one of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals. Global health agencies warn that without alternative funding, this abrupt halt of HIV programs could jeopardize the successes of the recent two decades. link: https://forms.gle/ARaJsR54jo4ZdmbZ9

Quo Vadis, Global Health – Fireside Chat II
How Cuts to Foreign Assistance and Restrictions on Terminology Impact Communities and Global Health Agencies – and How We Can Mitigate Their Effects

On May 16, 2025, the second event in the Quo Vadis, Global Health? Fireside Chat series took place, bringing together global health advocates, community voices, and international organizations to discuss the far-reaching consequences of political decisions by the U.S. administration under President Trump.

The discussion focused on two critical developments: the withdrawal of U.S. funding from key global health programs such as UNAIDS, and newly imposed restrictions on terminology related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Alongside the suspension of international assistance programs, the U.S. administration issued executive orders instructing federal agencies to eliminate the use of terms like gender, LGBTIQ, inclusion, disability, and equality—a list of 100 restricted words first reported by The New York Times.

These constraints pose serious risks: they undermine open discourse, hinder human rights-based approaches, and threaten the global HIV response by silencing or erasing the very communities these programs aim to serve. Controlling language means controlling thought—an authoritarian practice we’ve seen in countries like Russia and Iran. Now, civil society fears similar dynamics may take hold in the U.S.

The event explored how these developments are already affecting project proposals, community engagement, and the work of agencies like UNAIDS, and how international actors and civil society can respond.

Speakers:

• Christine Stegling, Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS
• Alexei Lakhov, HIV activist from Russia and former UNAIDS NGO Delegation member
• Shawn Mugisha, Ubuntu Law and Justice Centre, Uganda

Moderation:

• Robin Montgomery, ITPC Global, Canada
• Peter Wiessner, Action against AIDS Germany

Introduction:

• Marwin Meier, World Vision Germany

The discussion was held in English.