On February 26, Housing Works staff and advocates joined forces with members of ACT UP, Health GAP, and former USAID employees to stage a powerful protest in Washington, D.C., demanding the immediate and full restoration of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and all U.S. foreign aid.

Exactly one month after the Trump Administration issued a deadly and illegal stop-work order freezing humanitarian assistance, our coalition showed up at the Capitol to make our voices heard. At 11 a.m., 21 courageous activists risked arrest during a dramatic die-in and sit-in at the Capitol Rotunda to demand justice and urge the restoration of PEPFAR funding.

The action drew major national and international media coverage, including:

• The New York Times (Photos)

• Washington Post: “AIDS Activists Protest Foreign Aid Freeze” (Video)

• NBC News: “Demonstrators Stage Sit-In at Capitol Rotunda to Protest AIDS Funding Cuts”

• Washington Blade: “HIV/AIDS Activists Arrested on Capitol Hill”

• AP News: “Trump USAID”

• Getty Images: “Die-In Protest on Capitol Hill”

• The Guardian: “Fired USAID Workers and HIV Activists Hold ‘Die-In’ to Protest Trump and Musk”

• UPI: “USAID Workers Told to Leave; PEPFAR Funding Protesters Arrested”

• Yahoo News: “Die-In on Capitol Hill to Protest Global Aid Freeze”

• KSTP, ABC 5: “Trump Admin Says It’s Cutting 90% of USAID Foreign Aid Contracts”

We are not backing down. Our lives—and the lives of millions around the world—are on the line. Thank you to every advocate, marcher, risk-taker, and truth-teller who continues to stand with us. Let’s keep the pressure on.

Let’s keep the pressure on.