Renowned singer and pianist Elton John has thrown jabs at Donald Trump‘s administration for cutting almost all USAID programs around the world.
On February 27, the Trump administration declared its intention to cut $60 billion in U.S. aid globally and more than 90% of the AAID’s foreign aid contracts. For many years, the largest assistance organization in the world has been USAID.
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But responding to Trump’s decision on the USAID programs, Elton John stated that this will have devastating effects on the HIV response.
“The U.S. Administration’s abrupt decision to cut over 90% of USAID contracts could have devastating effects on the HIV response. We are working with our 90+ partners to ensure they can continue to provide lifesaving services and are launching The Rocket Response Fund to help cover immediate gaps in essential care,” Elton John posted on Instagram along with an official statement from his Elton John AIDS Foundation.
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“We urge the U.S. government to continue the lifesaving work of bipartisan programs like PEPFAR,” he added.
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In 1992, John established the Elton John AIDS Foundation to provide funding for studies targeted at ending HIV and AIDS. The group has expanded over the last thirty years to become one of the biggest independent AIDS charitable organizations in the world.
President George W. Bush introduced the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, in 2003. According to reports, the program has saved millions of lives worldwide by giving individuals with HIV access to antiretroviral therapy, which helps them control the infection and survive.
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After a 90-day assessment process that began in January, the Trump administration’s declaration comes after all projects financed by American taxpayers were assessed to make sure they adhered to the president’s “America First” agenda.
South African HIV programs have been rocked by the decision to reduce financing. One of the biggest nongovernmental groups (NGOs) battling HIV in South Africa is led by public health specialist Dr. Kate Rees, who said, “We are being pushed off a cliff.”
