April 30, 2025

Academy Advocates Gather to Defend HIV Infrastructure and Workforce

Members of the Academy joined more than 630 advocates from 38 States, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia for AIDS Watch 2025 in Washington, DC, during the first week of April. Advocates rallied on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol before convening over 271 meetings with congressional leaders about national and state level policies that are helping to end the HIV epidemic. 

Since that time, a recently leaked Office of Management and Budget (OMB) “Passback” memorandum signaled major changes to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed discretionary budget for Fiscal Year 2026. The memorandum shows that the Trump administration is proposing further damage to agency structure and several life-saving programs.

If passed by Congress, this budget would decimate offices and divisions across HHS and eliminate many programs, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of HIV Prevention, Ending the Epidemic funding, Part F of the Ryan White HIV AIDS Program, Minority AIDS Initiative Funding, and a significant amount of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s substance use treatment programs.

The official presidential budget proposal is due to be released in May and will serve as a framework for Congress to negotiate and approve federal spending levels through the appropriations process.

The Academy is currently working with HIVMA, Prep4All, AVAC and other advocacy organizations to advance our interests under the banner of the #SaveHIVFunding Campaign. Additionally, the time is now for individual advocacy on behalf of all these programs. Academy members are critical in the fight to maintain HIV funding across all programs and government agencies.

Advocacy Town Hall

On Monday, April 21, the Academy hosted an advocacy town hall designed to connect and support our members engaged in this fight. During the town hall, members shared that the current style of government is authoritarian in its orientation and thus only prevails in an environment filled with fear and apathy.

In addition to face-to-face meetings on Capitol Hill, members expressed an interest in holding in-district meetings with federal representatives as well as meeting with various local and state policy makers across the country. These meetings can highlight many regional and local issues that might be overlooked in beltway meetings.

Additionally, members expressed interest in holding educational forums at the community level to garner local media attention and build a groundswell of community attention, particularly where representatives are vulnerable or soon facing reelection.

This everything-everywhere-all-at-once strategy by the federal administration is draining the lifeblood out of our public health industry. Members noted that in addition to experiencing fear from vulnerable patients, members are enraged right now as many HIV providers and researchers are experiencing loss of funding and jobs.

Members noted that historically, the Academy has stood up to difficult administrations before. Whereas previous administrations appeared to act out of an ignorance to the importance of HIV medicine, this Administration has illegally threatened decades of progress, just as we should be preparing to finally witness the end of this epidemic.

These next several weeks are going to be critical as we continue to monitor the administration’s onslaught of attacks. If Congress passes laws that change how federal spending is going to happen, we will have a difficult time ever getting it back. We need each committee and member to choose a policy priority as we engage. Please find advocacy resources below and let us know how we can support you at this moment. Do not hesitate to contact us at chauncey@aahivm.org for support as these stories develop.

Action Alerts and Statements

• On April 3, the Academy issued a statement addressing the elimination of essential public health services by the Trump Administration.

• On April 17, the Academy issued a statement on the Draft FY26 HHS budget.

• The Academy shared an action alert created by Vivent Health that the Academy is using to equip its members in Texas on talking points for their state budget deliberations to inform committee members of ADAP priorities in the upcoming budget negotiations.

Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program and the Bio – Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program 

The Academy joins the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the HIV Medicine Association in inviting our committees to also sign an organizational letter in support of FY 2026 funding for the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program and the Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program by filling out this form. The deadline is May 9.

Proposed Reorganization of HHS and FY2026 Budget

The Academy joined the FAPP Convening Group, which has drafted a sign-on letter to HHS and the OMB expressing concerns about the proposed reorganization of HHS in the leaked FY2026 budget This letter and other previously sent FAPP documents can be found here.

For upcoming meetings with policy makers, Academy members also can access FAPP’s FY2026 HIV Funding & Policy Talking Points. These talking points will be updated as new policy developments warrant.

NIH Advocacy Toolkit and NIH State Advocacy Resource

This research-oriented toolkit is a comprehensive educational tool to inform the a range of audiences about the public benefits of HIV and other public health research. It may be useful for local advocacy efforts as well. You can also use an interactive resource from United for Medical Research that highlights the effects that NIH cuts will have on each state.

Medicaid Toolkit, Talking Points and Fact Sheets 

AIDS United has created a toolkit to use as we defend Medicaid from any cuts or policy changes that would prevent millions of Americans with and affected by HIV from receiving life-saving care. Members of Congress need pressure and encouragement to do the right thing and vote no. Now is the time to call or email your Member of Congress and tell them, “No cuts to Medicaid can be included in any reconciliation bill.”