The Trump administration is contemplating the elimination of a division within the CDC that specializes in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. This change could regress progress made in fighting the virus, shifting responsibilities to states without additional funding, which could escalate costs for taxpayers. The current federal support enables states to manage outbreaks and implement prevention methods effectively. Experts warn that such a move could revert the U.S. to previously high infection rates, undermining a positive trend initiated by the administration's 2019 commitment to control HIV by 2030.
"The move could send the US back to the dark days of the '80s, when people died from HIV every day," an advocate said.
"It would be devastating. The work is important because every new HIV transmission results in a person having a lifetime cost related to being HIV positive," said Jesse Milan.
A federal official stated that the plan is "not 100 percent going to happen, but it's 100 percent being discussed," highlighting uncertainty around the changes.
Trump's 2019 announcement of eradicating HIV by 2030 led to a 30 percent drop in new infections among young people, showcasing a positive impact.
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