Congresswoman Maxine Waters Sends Letter to Secretary Kennedy Demanding Answers on Reported Elimination of HIV Funding

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) sent a letter to the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding answers regarding the reported complete elimination of $700 million in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding for HIV prevention.

In the letter, Congresswoman Waters slams the agency’s drastic and irresponsible actions that would have catastrophic consequences for public health, including critical prevention and screening services in our battle against HIV/AIDS. 

“This decision is not just reckless — it is deadly. By eliminating HIV prevention funding, lives will be lost. People who rely on outreach programs for testing will go undiagnosed. Individuals who depend on prevention services will be left unprotected. Health systems that have worked tirelessly to combat this epidemic will be overwhelmed with preventable cases. This is an unconscionable abdication of responsibility by the federal government,” wrote Congresswoman Waters.

“NMAC is deeply grateful to Congresswoman Waters for her unwavering commitment to protecting HIV funding. The proposed cuts to HIV prevention would be catastrophic, threatening decades of progress in the fight against HIV. The community is deeply concerned by these potential reductions, but we take solace in knowing that Congresswoman Waters is on the frontlines, fiercely advocating for these critical resources,” said Harold Phillips, Deputy Director of Programs for NMAC.

Read the full letter HERE.