January 28, 2026

Advocacy Can Rescue HIV Funding from Decimation

In May of last year, President Trump abandoned his 2019 pledge to end HIV as an epidemic, and called for the elimination of HIV prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and housing services as part of his budget request to Congress. House appropriators, led by the House majority, followed suit calling for an even larger $2 billion cut, including $525m in funds for medical and support services for people with HIV. Senate appropriators chose to maintain level funding in their version of the spending bill.

Now, in the January 2026 version of these bills, the appropriators preserve several core HIV investments, but they fail to address critical gaps that threaten patient access, prevention momentum and the HIV care workforce.

AAHIVM urges lawmakers to use the remaining steps of the FY26 appropriations process to protect access to prevention and treatment, ensure equitable care across all communities, accelerate the rollout of proven and emerging innovations, and stabilize the HIV clinical workforce essential to ending HIV as a public health threat.

Any members interested in contacting your representative with this appeal may find their representative and Senators by visiting this link. If you need additional help responding to this action, please contact chauncey@aahivm.org.

ACADEMY HAPPENINGS

HIV Care Resources in Central and South America

On December 4, the AAHIVM Southwest Chapter shared an initiative to map local HIV treatment resources in countries in South and Central America. This effort aims to ensure continuity of care by helping to connect patients to appropriate services if they require care while abroad. Additional details will be shared as this resource is developed. If you are interested in assisting with this, please reach out to Membership Director Aaron Austin at aaron@aahivm.org.

Building Up Advocacy and Outreach

On January 14, AAHIVM California & Hawaii Chapter joined together with the AAHIVM Northwest Chapter for a one-hour session dedicated to capacity building for advocacy and outreach hosted by strategic communications consultant Juliet Glassroth and Academy policy director Chauncey McGlathery. A recording of this session will be edited and made available to all Academy members for training purposes soon.

ACADEMY STATEMENTS AND SIGN-ONS

HIV Services Statement

On December 17, AAHIVM executive director Bruce Packet issued a statement on LinkedIn on behalf of the Academy describing data gathered by the Emergency HIV Clinical Response Task Force in mid-2025, showing deep cracks in HIV services emerging across the country. Additional surveys will be gathered regularly throughout 2026.

Florida ADAP Sign-On Letter

On January 23, AAHIVM shared a sign-on letter with its Florida members raising grave concerns regarding the cuts to Florida’s ADAP. The letter requests 1) a meeting with the surgeon general 2) a pause in implementation of the cuts and 3) an immediate authorization of 90-day refills for current ADAP clients.

Appropriations FY26 Statement

On January 26, AAHIVM issued a statement urging lawmakers to use the remaining steps of the FY26 appropriations process to strengthen domestic HIV investments.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Perfect Storm Crisis Statement

This SaveHIVFunding statement sounds the alarm on the emerging “perfect storm” of crisis emerging for HIV care with state and federal cuts colliding across the country.

Rapid Response Toolkit

This SaveHIVFunding toolkit is designed for fast, clear communication with reporters, producers, policymakers and the public. It explains what the Florida Department of Health is proposing for ADAP, why it matters, how people fall out of care in real life, and how to cover the story accurately and with urgency.

Issue Brief: Federal Policy Changes and ADAPs

This NASTAD resource outlines how HR1 and other federal policies threatens to unravel key pillars of the U.S. health care safety net and roll back the coverage gains that have kept people with HIV insured and in care since the passage of the Affordable Care Act.

Self-Advocacy Resource for People with Substance Use Challenges

This NASTAD resource offers recommendations for direct service providers working with people who use drugs to help them better engage with medical services by promoting health literacy and self-advocacy in medical settings.

ADAP Cost Containment Strategies

This NASTAD resource offers various cost containment strategies ADAPs can explore to ensure they can continue providing services to low-income people with HIV.

Mental Well-Being in ​the Workplace

January is recognized as Mental Wellness Month and is the perfect time for a mental health check-in. This Health Action Alliance self check-in tool provides ways health care providers and advocates can take care of themselves — and to help your team members do the same.