04 Feb Statement from the American Academy of HIV Medicine on Final Congressional Approval of the FY2026 SFOPS Budget
Washington, D.C.: The American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM) welcomes Congress’s final approval of the fiscal year (FY) 2026 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations bill and recognizes the bipartisan effort required to advance the legislation amid a constrained fiscal and political environment.
“In a challenging budget climate, preserving core HIV investments helps maintain continuity of care and protects hard-won gains in treatment and prevention,” said Bruce Packett, Executive Director of AAHIVM. “While the final funding levels fall short of what is ultimately needed to fully meet the nation’s HIV prevention and treatment goals, this bill avoids deeper cuts that would have placed patients, providers, and prevention progress at even more significant risk.”
AAHIVM notes that flat or limited funding across key HIV accounts continues to place strain on the systems on which patients and providers rely. Sustaining progress will require more than maintaining the status quo, particularly as workforce shortages persist and new prevention and treatment innovations await equitable scale-up.
As policymakers begin to look ahead to FY2027 appropriations, AAHIVM will continue to elevate the frontline realities of HIV care and the community-level impacts of federal policy decisions. The organization will advocate for stronger access to prevention and treatment, greater equity for populations disproportionately affected by HIV, and sustained investment in research and innovation. AAHIVM will also push for policies that stabilize and expand the HIV health care workforce through fair reimbursement, loan repayment, and professional protections.
“Our providers stand ready to end HIV as a domestic health threat, but federal funding to match the need is required to equip the workforce to finish the job,” Packett added. “The Academy looks forward to working with Congress to build on this year’s action and ensure the next phase of HIV policy delivers for patients and communities nationwide.”