Southern California healthcare agencies are sounding the alarm as they face potential cuts to programs that prevent HIV and AIDS. The Trump administration’s plan to reduce funding for these programs has sparked outrage among local LGBTQ+ service organizations, who warn that it could lead to a surge in new infections and ultimately cost lives.
Leaders of the LGBT Center in Los Angeles and DAP Health in the Coachella Valley have expressed concerns about the impact of reduced funding on their services. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of HIV Prevention plays a crucial role in driving down HIV rates, largely through testing, counseling, and medication distribution. The agency has seen a 12% decline in national HIV cases from 2018 to 2022.
The LGBT Center, which provides outreach, testing, and HIV-preventative medications, fears that cutting its $450,000 CDC grant will put lives at risk. “We’ve seen tremendous gains in the fight to end HIV because of the real investments that have been made in prevention and care,” said Joe Hollendoner, the center’s chief executive. “If we are terminating HIV prevention contracts, it is not hyperbole to say it’s going to cost human lives.”
DAP Health, which operates 25 clinics in Riverside and San Diego counties, also voices concerns about the impact of reduced funding on its services. “This ‘cost-saving’ strategy of decimating the CDC’s HIV prevention program will only increase costs, both human and financial,” said David Brinkman, the CEO.
The proposal has drawn criticism from lawmakers, including Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Indio), who represents the Coachella Valley. Ruiz stated that the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention plays a vital role in reducing new infections, saving billions in healthcare costs, and ensuring access to life-saving medication.
As concerns over HIV prevention funding continue to grow, experts warn that reduced support could significantly reverse progress in the fight against HIV by 2030, disproportionately affecting sub-Saharan African countries and vulnerable populations.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-29/trump-hiv-prevention-cuts-feared