The US is on the brink of a significant shift in its approach to domestic HIV prevention efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A proposed plan to scrap the agency’s HIV prevention division and transfer its functions elsewhere could have severe consequences, particularly for young Black and Hispanic men in the South.
According to public health officials, the plan would widen existing health disparities, leaving vulnerable populations without adequate support. The CDC has been investing $1.3 billion annually to prevent HIV, viral hepatitis, STIs, and tuberculosis, with a focus on high-risk groups.
Recent statistics show that young people in the South, especially those who are Black or Hispanic men, bear the brunt of new diagnoses. In 2022, there were 37,981 new cases of HIV diagnosed in the US, with 1 in 5 new diagnoses among people aged 13 to 24. The risk is highest among men who have sex with men, particularly those from Black and Latino communities.
Raynard Washington, a county health director in North Carolina, warns that cutting prevention efforts would be “heartbreaking” for young individuals facing the reality of living with HIV. He emphasizes the importance of education, testing, and access to treatment, citing successes in his own region where outreach programs have made a difference.
The CDC’s proposed plan is expected to be announced soon, as part of a larger reorganization effort. Administration officials caution that no final decision has been made, but critics fear that streamlining could lead to lost progress in fighting HIV/AIDS.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/03/20/cdc-hiv-prevention-cuts-trump-young-people