The Trump administration has recently terminated numerous federal grants supporting critical HIV research and prevention efforts, totaling tens of millions of dollars in funding. Over 60 projects funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have been cancelled, with a significant portion specifically focused on advancements in HIV care and prevention strategies. These abrupt cuts have disrupted ongoing studies at nearly two dozen universities and research institutions nationwide, leaving scientists scrambling to secure alternative funding and jeopardizing the continuation of vital work. Many of the affected projects were designed to improve access to HIV prevention drugs like PrEP in vulnerable communities, including trans women and Black men, who experience disproportionately higher rates of infection.

The administration's justification for these sweeping cuts cites concerns that research related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) may support unlawful discrimination. However, public health experts and researchers are expressing grave concerns that these actions will severely impede progress in combating the HIV epidemic, potentially leading to a resurgence of infections and preventable deaths. They argue that defunding this crucial research will dismantle the infrastructure built over decades, erode the nation's scientific capacity in this area, and ultimately set back efforts to eliminate HIV in the United States. This move contradicts the administration's previous stated goal of ending the HIV epidemic by 2030, raising fears of long-term negative consequences for public health and the well-being of affected communities.