CDC shifts HIV prevention funds away from community-based groups to state health departments

The Trump administration has decided not to renew millions of dollars in HIV prevention funding that previously went directly to community-based organizations (CBOs). Instead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will route these grants through state and local health departments, which will decide whether to subcontract the CBOs. The change affects the 'Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. through Community-Based Partnerships' program. CDC employees and nonprofit groups warn that this will increase administrative costs, delay funding, and potentially force many CBOs to lay off staff or shut down. Critics argue that CBOs, often run by people with lived experience, are crucial for reaching communities hardest hit by HIV due to trust and stigma issues. The Department of Health and Human Services defends the move as streamlining funding while keeping local decision-making central. The Save HIV Funding coalition, representing over 150 organizations, condemned the decision.