The return of a Donald Trump presidency in the United States is a body blow to the global HIV response, to universal sexual and reproductive health and rights, and to the people and communities who are most impacted by HIV and AIDS. It severely threatens global efforts to eradicate AIDS by 2030 — which is why the role of civil society and partners across the globe involved in the fight against the disease is more important now than ever.
Project 2025 is a manifesto led by the hard-right Heritage Foundation and authored by Trump’s allies that takes aim at a swathe of core constituencies and strategies that have contributed to the progress made in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
While Trump has distanced himself from Project 2025, it's worth noting that many of his former advisers and administration officials were involved in creating it and may be part of the next administration. And the advanced planning set out in it means that this time around, Trump and his allies are more likely to deliver on their agenda than was the case under his first administration.
About the author
John Plastow
John Plastow is the executive director of Frontline AIDS, the world’s largest partnership of civil society organizations working to end HIV and AIDS. John previously served as Oxfam International’s interim global programmes director. Prior to that, he was chief of impact at Oxfam Great Britain and CARE International UK’s programme and policy director.
