On National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD), we celebrate the legacy of activism and enduring power within Black communities. Across generations, Black leaders and everyday individuals have stood together, creating pathways to justice, health, and dignity. This collective strength continues to guide us, inspiring a renewed commitment to care for and protect one another.
HIV continues to disproportionately impact Black communities. Despite making up only 14% of the U.S. population, Black people accounted for 38% of new HIV diagnoses in 2022. Yet only 14% of PrEP users in 2023 were Black—despite this prevention tool’s effectiveness. These disparities highlight the importance of sustained and equitable funding for HIV prevention and care.
Now, Congress is proposing over $700 million in cuts to essential HIV resources, including a devastating 33% reduction for the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative and the elimination of critical funding within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These cuts threaten to reverse decades of progress and exacerbate health disparities.
The Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative, which has received bipartisan support since 2020, is also at risk of losing funding. Without continued investment, we will fall short of our goal to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.
Why Protecting HIV Funding Matters:
- Cuts to HIV prevention and treatment services will lead to more new HIV cases and worsen health outcomes for people living with HIV.
- Black communities, already bearing the brunt of the epidemic, will face even greater challenges.
- Medicaid, which disproportionately benefits Black communities and is the largest source of insurance coverage for people living with HIV, is also under threat.
Drawing on Community Strength: Black communities have always been at the forefront of change—rising together, supporting one another, and reimagining what a brighter future can hold. That spirit of resilience is what we need now. Protecting HIV funding is about more than just numbers; it’s about safeguarding lives and honoring the fight of those who came before us.
What Can You Do? We need your voice. Tell your representatives in Congress to #SaveHIVFunding and ensure that critical HIV programs remain robustly funded. Protecting these resources will save lives and help us achieve the goal of ending the HIV epidemic.
Take action today by visiting bit.ly/savehivfunding2025 and urging your representatives to stand up for Black communities and all people living with HIV.
Together, drawing on our legacy of activism and resilience, we can make a difference. Let’s fight for health equity and ensure that no one is left behind.
