The Future of HIV Funding Under President Trump
Would federal funding cuts to the Ryan White Care Act be "devastating" to the HIV-positive population?
Shortly after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the webpage for the Office of National AIDS Policy was taken down from the White House website.
While this may just be part of a typical transition to a new administration, advocates for the LGBTQ community are especially concerned about the future of the Ryan White Care Act, a national program that provides critical resources to individuals living with HIV, particularly low-income populations.
A press release from the White House on January 31, 2017, stated, "President Donald J. Trump is determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community."
There are an estimated 1.2 million individuals in the United States who are living with HIV, and approximately 1 of 8 are unaware that they are infected, according to the CDC.
During his campaign for Congress in 2000, Vice President Mike Pence questioned whether resources should be directed to the Ryan White program.
"Congress should support the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act only after completion of an audit to ensure that federal dollars were no longer being given to organizations that celebrate and encourage the types of behaviors that facilitate the spreading of the HIV virus. Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior," read a statement on Pence's