NBC News reported this week that the Trump administration is considering dismantling the CDC’s division dedicated to HIV prevention, potentially shifting its responsibilities to the Department of Health and Human Services. Another alarming possibility? Slashing up to $700 million from the CDC’s HIV programs.
As someone diagnosed with HIV and AIDS in 2006, I can’t help but fear what’s coming next.
When I first received my diagnosis, I was terrified. My health was rapidly declining, and my future seemed bleak. Then, antiretroviral treatment changed everything. Within months, my viral load became undetectable. Thanks to ongoing treatment, I’ve remained healthy, proving that medication is not just about survival—it’s about living.
But living with HIV comes at a cost. My medications alone would be over $4,000 a month if not for the Ryan White CARE Act, a lifeline for low-income individuals like me. This program ensures access to life-saving treatment, helping people suppress the virus to undetectable levels—meaning we can’t transmit it to others. Treatment equals prevention. Without it, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Despite this, the Trump administration has already taken steps to weaken global HIV relief efforts by targeting PEPFAR, a program credited with saving over 26 million lives worldwide. Now, the CDC’s HIV funding is on the chopping block, potentially disrupting essential services like HIV testing, education, and PrEP—an effective tool that prevents HIV transmission.
If these services disappear or get absorbed into an already overstretched Ryan White program, what happens next? The demand will far exceed resources, and underserved communities—especially in the Deep South—will suffer most. Meanwhile, House Republicans are aggressively pushing to cut Medicaid, another critical safety net for low-income and disabled individuals living with HIV.
Trump’s broader policies only add to the uncertainty. His executive orders against DEI initiatives put programs specifically designed to help LGBTQ individuals, Black communities, and women at risk. If funding for these targeted HIV prevention programs vanishes, new infections could skyrocket.
We’ve already seen what happens when HIV funding dries up. In Africa, PEPFAR cuts have led to rationed medication and care. How long before the U.S. faces the same crisis? How long before people like me are left wondering how we’ll afford our next dose?
This isn’t just about me. It’s about millions of people who rely on these programs to stay alive. We’ve come too far in the fight against HIV to let it slip backward. Hope alone isn’t enough—we must act before it’s too late. We cannot let Trump turn HIV into a death sentence again.
