House proposes to gut ending HIV programs

Spending Cuts & Policy Riders Must Never Become Law

Washington DC… The House Labor, HHS Appropriations Subcommittee has passed a FY2024 spending bill that would eliminate all $542 million in funding for the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative, a historic effort to end HIV begun by former President Trump. The Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) cuts include $220 million at the CDC; $165 million from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and $157 million from HRSA Community Health Centers that focus on PrEP.

In addition, $74 million would be cut from other parts of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, $32 million from the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund, and SAMHSA’s $117 million Minority AIDS programs would be eliminated. In total, domestic HIV program cuts would equal $767 million.

Countless other programs that impact HIV prevention would be eliminated while the bill is weighed down by mean-spirited socially conservative policy riders that impact the people most impacted by HIV.

Funding for other CDC HIV and hepatitis prevention programs would be flat funded at $973 million and $43 million, respectively, and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program would receive $2.33 billion.   

“While we appreciate the sustained funding for some domestic HIV and hepatitis programs, we are devastated by the proposal to eliminate the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative,” said Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute. “We were on a trajectory to end HIV by ensuring all people have access to care and treatment, and prevent new infections through increasing access to PrEP, but now all those efforts will be lost. This bill cannot stand as is.”

The Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative was created by the Trump administration and has been continued by President Biden. It is a concerted effort to promote prevention and treatment, including PrEP, initially in the 57 jurisdictions in the U.S. that have the highest concentration of HIV.  While it has never been adequately funded, over two years, the CDC reports that it has resulted in the distribution of 140,000 self-HIV test kits, 600,000 other HIV tests, and more than 44,000 PrEP prescriptions. HRSA reports that over 22,000 people have been engaged or reengaged into care and over 52,000 people have received PrEP in 466 EHE funded community health centers.

“These spending cuts, along with the bill’s policy riders, including those that allow discrimination against LGBT individuals, can never become law. Furthermore, policy riders that focus on eliminating sexual and reproductive health care and initiatives that promote racial equity and support for under-served communities will reverse our efforts to address HIV. We look forward to working with the entire Congress, including the U.S. Senate, on a spending bill that continues efforts to end HIV and hepatitis that can pass and become law,” concluded Schmid.     

The House Appropriations Committee passed the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies FY2024 spending bill that includes $505 million, an increase of $6 million, for the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program.  This is the amount that was requested by the Biden administration.

The Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations bill includes $5 million for the Indian Health Service for ending HIV and hepatitis C. This is the same amount as current funding, but below the president’s request of $52 million.

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The HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute is a national, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote quality and affordable healthcare for people living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other serious and chronic health conditions.