Since the first case of HIV in the U.S. nearly 44 years ago, the country has made significant progress towards eradicating the disease. Now on the cusp of ending the epidemic, roadblocks from President Donald Trump’s second administration may threaten to stall that progress.The current administration has pulled millions in HIV-related grants and cut staffing positions essential to research and prevention — a reversal from Trump’s promise six years ago to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.In his 2019 State of the Union address, Trump committed to “defeat AIDS in America.” He backed that promise with funding that correlated with a decrease in new infections. Former President Joe Biden kept the elevated HIV/AIDS prevention and research funding, which topped $1 billion in 2024. Research by The Foundation for AIDS Research (amFAR) estimates that there was a 20% reduction in new HIV infections from 2010 to 2022 as a result of the increased funding.Now, the future of funding remains unclear. Trump’s FY 2026 “skinny budget” did not provide details on domestic HIV prevention and research. It did call for a $77 million cut in funds for the CDC’s sexually transmitted infections, infectious diseases and opioids, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis programs — a 20% decrease. A Health and Human Services spokesperson said that critical HIV/AIDS programs will continue and that the area is a “high priority.” The first cases of HIV in the U.S. were reported on June 5, 1981. HIV is a virus that attacks a person’s immune system, making them vulnerable to disease. It is spread most commonly through unprotected sex or sharing needles. AIDS is the final stage of HIV.Within 20 years after those first cases, at least 448,000 people with AIDS died. In 2023 — the most recent year the CDC has data available — there were nearly 4,500 HIV-related deaths. Though there has been a lot of scientific progress since HIV was first discovered, no cure exists. There are preventative drugs and treatment options for those who have HIV that can help make the virus undetectable and untransmissible. Today, about 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the U.S., according to CDC estimates.The number of new HIV infections has been declining, but experts warn that if funding isn’t maintained, progress could halt.The federal government has pulled millions in grant funding for several organizations that provide HIV support and research. One of those organizations — the San Francisco AIDS Foundation — is the lead plaintiff in a case against the Trump administration.The case challenges the legality of three Trump executive orders that call to end grants related to diversity, equity and inclusion and gender identity. San Francisco AIDS Foundation CEO Tyler TerMeer said the organization can’t do its work without an equity lens, as Black communities are disproportionately impacted by HIV. Black people account for nearly 40% of those living with HIV in the U.S., according to the CDC.In the South, stigma and limits to health care access put people more at risk. In 2022, southern states accounted for about half of new HIV infections. There are also financial barriers. Prevention and care of HIV are expensive for those without health insurance.The CDC has lost staffing at its HIV Division as part of Trump’s reductions in force across the federal government. The layoffs and federal funding cuts mean a program that mailed HIV testing kits across the country — Together TakeMeHome — will close before the end of the year, the program’s executive director Travis Sanchez said.Together TakeMeHome helps HIV positive people, who otherwise would not have access to testing, learn of their status and take steps to avoid infecting others. Sanchez estimates that since the program was launched in 2023, it has led to nearly 7,000 people learning they were living with HIV.The CDC has also said on its website that it cannot continue monitoring the usage of PrEP, a drug that prevents HIV infection, due to the HIV Division staff reduction. The latest published research from 2022 found that about two-thirds of people who could benefit from PrEP do not take it.The CDC did not respond to requests for comment on the staff cuts and programs impacted.“While we have made such significant progress in the HIV epidemic over the last 40 plus years, and while you don’t hear about HIV as much as you once did, while it’s not the headline in the newspaper or the main topic on the news at night, HIV is still very real and still impacting every part of our country,” TerMeer said.Beyond the U.S., HIV remains a global issue, with nearly 40 million people living with HIV as of 2023. Africa is the most affected region.Trump cuts to USAID may account for 2,300 new HIV infections each day, according to an impact analysis from the United Nations. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
Since the first case of HIV in the U.S. nearly 44 years ago, the country has made significant progress towards eradicating the disease. Now on the cusp of ending the epidemic, roadblocks from President Donald Trump’s second administration may threaten to stall that progress.
The current administration has pulled millions in HIV-related grants and cut staffing positions essential to research and prevention — a reversal from Trump’s promise six years ago to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.
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In his 2019 State of the Union address, Trump committed to “defeat AIDS in America.” He backed that promise with funding that correlated with a decrease in new infections.
Former President Joe Biden kept the elevated HIV/AIDS prevention and research funding, which topped $1 billion in 2024.
Research by The Foundation for AIDS Research (amFAR) estimates that there was a 20% reduction in new HIV infections from 2010 to 2022 as a result of the increased funding.
Now, the future of funding remains unclear. Trump’s FY 2026 “skinny budget” did not provide details on domestic HIV prevention and research. It did call for a $77 million cut in funds for the CDC’s sexually transmitted infections, infectious diseases and opioids, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis programs — a 20% decrease.
A Health and Human Services spokesperson said that critical HIV/AIDS programs will continue and that the area is a “high priority.”
The first cases of HIV in the U.S. were reported on June 5, 1981. HIV is a virus that attacks a person’s immune system, making them vulnerable to disease. It is spread most commonly through unprotected sex or sharing needles. AIDS is the final stage of HIV.
Within 20 years after those first cases, at least 448,000 people with AIDS died. In 2023 — the most recent year the CDC has data available — there were nearly 4,500 HIV-related deaths.
Though there has been a lot of scientific progress since HIV was first discovered, no cure exists. There are preventative drugs and treatment options for those who have HIV that can help make the virus undetectable and untransmissible.
Today, about 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the U.S., according to CDC estimates.
The number of new HIV infections has been declining, but experts warn that if funding isn’t maintained, progress could halt.
The federal government has pulled millions in grant funding for several organizations that provide HIV support and research. One of those organizations — the San Francisco AIDS Foundation — is the lead plaintiff in a case against the Trump administration.
The case challenges the legality of three Trump executive orders that call to end grants related to diversity, equity and inclusion and gender identity.
San Francisco AIDS Foundation CEO Tyler TerMeer said the organization can’t do its work without an equity lens, as Black communities are disproportionately impacted by HIV.
Black people account for nearly 40% of those living with HIV in the U.S., according to the CDC.
In the South, stigma and limits to health care access put people more at risk. In 2022, southern states accounted for about half of new HIV infections.
There are also financial barriers. Prevention and care of HIV are expensive for those without health insurance.
The CDC has lost staffing at its HIV Division as part of Trump’s reductions in force across the federal government.
The layoffs and federal funding cuts mean a program that mailed HIV testing kits across the country — Together TakeMeHome — will close before the end of the year, the program’s executive director Travis Sanchez said.
Together TakeMeHome helps HIV positive people, who otherwise would not have access to testing, learn of their status and take steps to avoid infecting others. Sanchez estimates that since the program was launched in 2023, it has led to nearly 7,000 people learning they were living with HIV.
The CDC has also said on its website that it cannot continue monitoring the usage of PrEP, a drug that prevents HIV infection, due to the HIV Division staff reduction. The latest published research from 2022 found that about two-thirds of people who could benefit from PrEP do not take it.
The CDC did not respond to requests for comment on the staff cuts and programs impacted.
“While we have made such significant progress in the HIV epidemic over the last 40 plus years, and while you don’t hear about HIV as much as you once did, while it’s not the headline in the newspaper or the main topic on the news at night, HIV is still very real and still impacting every part of our country,” TerMeer said.
Beyond the U.S., HIV remains a global issue, with nearly 40 million people living with HIV as of 2023. Africa is the most affected region.
Trump cuts to USAID may account for 2,300 new HIV infections each day, according to an impact analysis from the United Nations.
