The Trump administration released $600 million in congressionally appropriated funding for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, on Wednesday, ending months of uncertainty over the global vaccine program after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held the money over unsubstantiated safety concerns.
The funding covers fiscal years 2025 and 2026, and was set to expire on September 30. According to the State Department and HHS, the release follows Gavi’s commitment to implement a series of reforms that align with the administration’s vaccine policy priorities.
Kennedy had blocked the funding beginning in June 2025, claiming that Gavi was using “dangerous and outdated shots” and had “ignored the science” on vaccine safety. The primary focus of his criticism centered on thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative used in some multi-dose vaccine vials, particularly in low-income countries where refrigeration infrastructure is limited. Mainstream vaccine safety experts and scientific studies have found no link between thimerosal and autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders, and the United States itself largely phased out the preservative in pediatric vaccines by 2001.
Under the agreement, Gavi committed to work towards transitioning mercury-containing vaccines to mercury-free alternatives, expanding access to newer vaccine formulations. The State Department and HHS emphasized in their joint statement that “children in Africa, Asia, and Latin America deserve access to the same higher-quality, mercury-free vaccines.” Gavi noted that it had already planned to transition away from thimerosal-containing formulations because newer vaccines provide protection against additional disease strains, not solely due to safety concerns.
Beyond the mercury issue, Gavi accepted additional conditions. The organization committed to end the “promotion and procurement” of COVID-19 vaccines for routine immunization programs globally, and to downsize its staff at its Geneva headquarters. Gavi also agreed to establish a function within its secretariat to monitor and review developments in vaccine science, including vaccine safety.
The State Department and HHS noted that Gavi will decrease funding for other partners, including the World Health Organization, as part of the requested reforms. The Trump administration withdrew from the WHO in January 2026 and has sought to deny U.S. funding to the global health body through any indirect channel. By conditioning Gavi’s funding on reduced WHO support, the administration extended its defunding strategy to a key partner organization.
The U.S. contribution represents approximately 15 percent of Gavi’s total yearly budget. Gavi provides vaccines for 20 diseases, including measles, malaria, and polio, to more than 50 low-income countries. The organization has estimated that it has vaccinated over 1.2 billion children since 2000, preventing more than 20.6 million potential deaths. When Kennedy first announced the funding hold in mid-2025, Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar warned that more than 1 million babies could die in the world’s poorest countries if U.S. support was withdrawn entirely.
The State Department said the U.S. expects to resume its place on the Gavi board and will evaluate any future U.S. support based on “demonstrated performance, accountability, and implementation” of the agreed reforms. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, who announced the funding release on Tuesday, has been a vocal defender of Gavi’s work alongside her Democratic colleague Senator Jeanne Shaheen, citing the organization’s role in preventing disease outbreaks from reaching the United States by controlling them at the source.
Sources
- Reuters — confirmed the $600 million release, Gavi’s commitment to mercury-free vaccines, and background on thimerosal safety consensus
- POLITICO — detailed the reforms secured, COVID-19 vaccine procurement restrictions, staff downsizing, and WHO funding cuts
- State Department and HHS joint statement — official confirmation of the funding release and all reform commitments
- The Hill — confirmed the release reversed Kennedy’s previous funding halt
