By Michael Gwarisa
The future of the United States’ HIV response hangs in the balance after the House Appropriations Committee advanced a spending bill that would slash nearly $2 billion from federal HIV programs. Advocates and public health leaders are warning that if enacted, the cuts could dismantle decades of progress in the fight against HIV and put millions of lives at risk.
The proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Labor-HHS appropriations bill eliminates all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) HIV prevention funding, amounting to roughly $1 billion. It also reduces the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program by $525 million and ends the federal Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative. The Minority HIV/AIDS Fund would also be zeroed out, raising concerns about worsening disparities in already vulnerable communities.
In a statement, the Save HIV Funding Campaign described the committee’s vote as a devastating setback.
Today’s committee vote is a devastating setback that puts hundreds of thousands of lives at risk. By voting to slash $2 billion from federal HIV programs with more than 35 years of bipartisan support, this committee has chosen to gut lifesaving services that over 500,000 people depend on for comprehensive HIV medical care and treatment,” the campaign said.
The group added that more than 1.2 million people in the United States are currently living with HIV and over half a million rely on federal programs for medication and care. Advocates argue that cutting funding is not only bad policy but also a moral failure that undermines America’s ability to respond to both present and future public health threats.
Federal HIV prevention programs have long been praised as some of the most cost-effective interventions in public health. According to data shared by campaigners, every dollar invested in prevention saves between three and seven dollars in future treatment costs. Advocates stress that reducing access to lifesaving interventions such as PrEP, a daily pill that prevents HIV infection by 99 percent, will lead to new infections and ultimately increase healthcare costs in the long run.
Critics of the bill also point out the disproportionate impact the cuts will have on Black and Latino communities, which together account for more than 65 percent of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. Ending funding for prevention and treatment programs risks deepening racial and health inequities that activists have spent decades trying to close.
“This isn’t a numbers game — this is about people’s lives. For decades, this issue has united both parties, and it needs to again. It’s the government’s job to protect its people, not expose us to life-and-death situations,” said actor and HIV advocate Javier Muñoz in an interview with ABC’s Kyra Phillips.
Advocacy groups have already mobilized against the cuts. Last week, campaigners unveiled the #CutsKill Quilt on Capitol Hill, inspired by the AIDS Memorial Quilt of the 1980s. The quilt was designed by community members and HIV service providers to honor lives lost and to serve as a warning of the devastating impact the proposed cuts would have on prevention, treatment, housing and care. Each panel represents programs and communities that risk being wiped out if the funding is eliminated.
Public health leaders say the consequences of these cuts extend beyond HIV. Federal HIV programs have provided a blueprint for responding to other health crises, including the opioid epidemic, Mpox and COVID-19. By dismantling this infrastructure, experts argue, lawmakers would weaken America’s overall preparedness for future outbreaks.
Despite the bleak outlook, advocates emphasize that the fight is far from over. The bill must still pass the full House and Senate before becoming law. Groups such as the Save HIV Funding Campaign, which represents more than 150 national and local organizations, are mobilizing supporters to pressure lawmakers to reject the cuts and protect decades of bipartisan progress.
