House LHHS funding bill puts lives, public health at risk

The FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services funding bill released by the House LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee would devastate the HIV response in communities across America, upending four decades of progress in ending the HIV epidemic. The bill proposes to cut nearly $2 billion from federal HIV programs and would eliminate CDC’s HIV prevention program; the Ryan White care, dental and workforce programs; and the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative.   

These massive cuts would eviscerate the public health and community-based programs and clinics that patients count on for lifesaving HIV screening, prevention, care and treatment services and gut our nation’s ability to respond to sexually transmitted infections, viral hepatitis and emerging infections like mpox. 

Defunding HIV programs will not make the virus disappear but will increase new HIV cases, increase health care costs and cause countless preventable deaths. We cannot afford to backtrack in public health and in efforts to end the HIV epidemic. Lives and the health of our country are at stake. 

Colleen Kelley, MD, MPH, FIDSA  
Chair, HIVMA 

About HIVMA 

The HIV Medicine Association is a community of more than 6,000 health care professionals who advance a comprehensive and humane response to the HIV pandemic, informed by science and social justice. HIVMA works to increase access to health care services and coverage for people with HIV and populations heavily impacted by HIV and to foster a robust, diverse and culturally competent HIV workforce. HIVMA is part of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Visit hivma.org to learn more.