White House Sparks Outcry by Forgoing World AIDS Day Commemoration as Global Funding Faces Cuts
WASHINGTON – In a move drawing sharp criticism from advocates adn global health officials, the White House did not issue a proclamation marking World AIDS Day on December 1st, a departure from past administrations and coinciding with cuts to U.S. funding for global HIV/AIDS programs.The decision has ignited protests and raised concerns about a rollback in the fight against the disease, notably in countries heavily reliant on American aid.
The U.S. has historically been the leading financial supporter of the global fight against HIV/AIDS, investing over $110 billion through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) since 2003. Though, as the start of President Trump’s second term nearly a year ago, the administration has implemented significant reductions in global health spending, prioritizing an “America First” approach and pushing for countries to become less dependent on aid.
these cuts have already begun to disrupt HIV/AIDS care in several nations, including Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, and Kenya, according to UNAIDS. Reports indicate challenges in ensuring consistent access to medication for individuals living with HIV.
“Is this a symbolic act? Yes, it is and it symbolizes something that is actually devastating and chaotic,” stated advocate Sharon Warren.
The U.S. is not the only nation scaling back international assistance, with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom also reducing foreign aid as they re-evaluate priorities. A recent UNAIDS report for World AIDS Day warned of “ruinous consequences” stemming from these funding reductions.
Protesters gathered outside the White House on Monday, demanding a restoration of funding. Asia Russell, executive director of health GAP, a global HIV advocacy organization, described the decision to forgo a World AIDS Day commemoration as a return to the early days of the epidemic, when stigma and neglect were rampant.
“So what’s missing is political will, and that lack of political will was on devastating display when the White House announced that it would ban commemoration of this pandemic. It’s truly depraved and outrageous,” Russell said, noting approximately 100 people participated in the protest.
The administration’s decision aligns with a broader critical stance towards multilateral organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations.president Trump initiated the process of withdrawing the U.S. from the WHO on his first day in office. However, the administration has marked other UN-designated days, such as World Autism Awareness Day, issuing a proclamation for that occasion in April 2025.
Russell emphasized the importance of World AIDS Day itself, stating, “World AIDS Day only exists on the calendar because of pressure from people with HIV and their communities fighting back against stigma. A commemorative day, as minor as that might sound, is actually life-saving work to chip away at that deadly stigma.”
Despite recent medical advancements in both preventing new HIV infections and treating those already infected, advocates warn that a lack of sustained political and financial commitment threatens to reverse hard-won progress.
