PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, provided HIV testing to 83.8 million people in fiscal year 2024 and has saved more than 26 million lives to date, according to program data. Its impact on global and domestic health cannot be overstated.

At Michigan State University, students involved with Partners in Health Engage are working to promote global health equity through advocacy, education and fundraising for direct medical needs. These students are meeting with members of Congress to address looming federal budget cuts to lifesaving programs such as PEPFAR and the Global Fund.

Foreign health assistance accounts for less than 0.1% of the federal budget, yet it supports programs that prevent and treat diseases we already know how to cure. Allowing preventable deaths because of a lack of funding is unacceptable.

We urge U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman to advocate for the preservation of PEPFAR funding in fiscal year 2026 and to support policies that save lives from preventable disease.

Regards,

Alexandra Beck

East Lansing, MI

Alexandra Beck is a neuroscience and public policy junior at Michigan State University.

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