Twenty-one protesters, including HIV/AIDS activists and recently fired federal workers, were arrested on Wednesday after staging a “die-in” at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington D.C. The demonstration was held in response to severe funding cuts for HIV/AIDS relief under the Trump administration.
The protest, organised by ACT UP NY, Health GAP (Global Access Project), Housing Works, and the Treatment Action Group, sought to highlight the devastating impact of dismantling the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
A Desperate Plea for Action
Around 30 activists gathered in the building’s marble-lined lobby, chanting and blowing whistles while holding signs with messages such as “Save USAID, Save Lives” and “U.S. Congress Kills People With AIDS Worldwide.” Several participants lay on the floor, forming a circle and joining hands in a symbolic representation of the lives at stake.
USAID, a key agency for U.S. foreign assistance in food, health, and development programs, has been gutted by recent administrative decisions, leaving HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs in turmoil.
One of the most significant casualties of these cuts is the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)—a program that provides life-saving medication to 20 million people globally. Initially, PEPFAR funds were frozen, later released, but with former USAID officials fired, the programs that relied on them have been left in disarray, unable to communicate with previous partners.
Massive Program Shutdowns & Legal Battles
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court handed the Trump administration a temporary victory, ruling that it did not need to pay over $1.5 billion in USAID work already completed—at least until further legal challenges proceed.
That same day, the administration announced the termination of more than 10,000 contracts and grants across USAID and the State Department. According to a former senior USAID official, these cuts account for roughly 90% of the agency’s operations, impacting tens of billions of dollars in spending.
Former USAID contractor Van Credle, who participated in the protest, condemned the dismantling of the agency.
“This is not controversial, and what is happening is not government efficiency. It’s government fraud, waste, and abuse—especially with what DOGE is doing,” Credle told The Guardian.
DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, is a newly created agency led by Elon Musk, who froze U.S. humanitarian aid as one of his first major actions. Democrats argue that DOGE’s moves are illegal and unconstitutional, as they override Congress-approved funding laws and exceed executive authority.
“It’s difficult to overstate the stakes when it comes to humanitarian assistance,” said Asia Russell, Executive Director of Health GAP. “We are demanding that Congress stop behaving like doormats in the face of this attack on life-saving aid.”
USAID’s Disappearance and a Dark Future
Over the weekend, USAID’s last remaining officials announced that nearly all employees worldwide were being placed on leave. Those still in Washington have been instructed to remove their belongings from USAID headquarters, which is set to become office space for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a key agency in Trump’s immigration crackdown.
A stark sign of USAID’s erasure, black tape now covers its name outside the building.
