Today, HHS rolled out decimating staffing cuts to federal agencies that will permanently undermine national leadership and infrastructure in infectious diseases, including HIV. AFC condemns the mass firings which will destroy the federal government’s ability to respond to infectious disease outbreaks, conduct research, analyze data and distribute funding.
Some of the firings include staff at the Division of HIV Prevention at CDC, the HHS Office of Infectious Disease and HIV Policy at HHS, and staff within the Ryan White Program and HRSA Bureau of Primary Care. It appears that Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative staffing was also eliminated. This initiative was launched by President Trump during his first administration and brought over $9 million a year into Cook County for HIV prevention, treatment and linkage to care activities. The full impact of these firings is not yet clear, but it is certain that they will worsen racial disparities in the HIV epidemic and directly harm people most impacted by HIV – Black and Latiné same gender-loving men, Black and Latiné transgender women, and Black cisgender women.
The mass firings took place as hundreds of HIV advocates from across the country gathered in Washington D.C. for AIDSWatch, including over 20 from Illinois. On Wednesday, the advocates will rally at Capitol Hill to protest the cuts and meet with members of Congress to express their dismay and concern.
AFC staff will deliver the message that President Trump and HHS Secretary Kennedy are squandering the strong national progress we have made towards ending the HIV epidemic – and are creating the conditions that could lead to a rise in people newly diagnosed with HIV across the United States.
AFC urges Chicagoans to join the “Hands Off! Rally and March to Rise Up and Fight Back Against Trump/Musk Attacks” on Saturday, April 5 at noon at 50 W. Washington St., Chicago. Learn more here: Hands Off! Rally and March to Rise Up and Fight Back Against Trump/Musk Attacks · Indivisible
