The Trump administration is planning to eliminate all federal funding for domestic HIV prevention programs, a move that health experts warn could undo decades of progress in combating the epidemic. The decision would shut down the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s HIV prevention division and halt all federally funded prevention efforts.
According to sources within the Department of Health and Human Services, the move is part of a broader restructuring effort targeting federal public health programs. However, HHS Deputy Press Secretary Emily Hilliard denied any plans have been made, stating that the administration is taking a careful look at divisions to streamline services and support the President’s efforts to restructure the federal government.
Health experts are alarmed by the proposed cuts, citing the importance of continued investment in HIV prevention to meet the goal of ending the epidemic. “We are so close in the United States to ending the HIV epidemic, and it’s within reach in many ways,” said Adrian Shanker, a former deputy assistant secretary for health policy.
The LGBT Life Center in Norfolk, Virginia, which relies on federal funding for free testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis, and linkage to treatment, would be severely impacted by the cuts. “We have spent 20 years building these HIV and STI prevention programs to keep our community healthy,” said Stacie Walls, CEO of the center.
Experts warn that the move would lead to more infections, greater economic strain, and increased healthcare costs over time. “This is a dangerous move,” said Jirair Ratevosian, an associate research scientist at Yale University. “Putting prevention programs on hold today means paying a much higher price tomorrow – in lives, economic stability, and public health.”
The proposed cuts are part of a broader trend of eliminating funding for LGBTQ+ initiatives, which have been widely criticized as misguided and damaging. “This isn’t just about HIV,” said Walls. “It’s about public health, it’s about unemployment, and it’s about people who have built their careers serving the community losing everything overnight.”
Source: https://www.advocate.com/news/hhs-rollback-hiv-prevention-programs