UN Proposes Shutting Down UNAIDS by End of 2026 as Donor Funds Dry Up

The United Nations is considering shutting down UNAIDS — the agency dedicated to leading the global response to HIV/AIDS — by the end of 2026, according to a draft U.N. restructuring plan released on September 19, 2025. The proposal comes amid deep funding shortfalls triggered by recent cuts in foreign aid, and part of broader efforts to streamline U.N. operations.

According to the document shared by Reuters, UNAIDS’ current staff is expected to be cut by 55% in the short term, with responsibilities gradually merged into other U.N. bodies. The agency itself has said any accelerated closure timeline must be approved by its board.

UNAIDS, founded in 1996, reports that since the first cases of HIV were identified, over 88 million people have been infected and nearly 42 million have died from AIDS-related illnesses. The agency also noted that AIDS-related deaths dropped from 1.3 million in 2010 to about 630,000 in 2023, thanks to improved access to treatment. However, it warns that nearly one in four people living with HIV still lack access to life-saving therapies, and new infections are rising in some regions.

Budget constraints triggered by steep cuts in U.S. foreign aid are cited as a key factor behind the proposal, which will require member states to decide whether UNAIDS should be “sunsetted” or transitioned into a framework under other U.N. entities. The agency’s transition plan already foresaw staffing reductions and a comprehensive review of its mandate in 2027; what will now be decided is whether closure by 2026 is viable.

UNAIDS said that “AIDS is not over; the global AIDS response has been upended in recent months” in response to the proposed changes. The agency is calling for increased commitment from nations and donors to avoid a rollback in gains made over decades.