S.F. HIV groups ‘stunned’ by latest grant cuts after Trump vowed to ‘defeat AIDS’ - San Francisco Chronicle

What the report says

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that HIV prevention organizations in San Francisco and across California say they were caught off guard by the apparent end of a federal grant program created during President Donald Trump’s first term. According to the Chronicle, 11 California clinics face losing access to $20 million in available federal support, part of more than $200 million over five years for 96 clinics nationwide. Grantees said federal employees told them the White House Office of Management and Budget halted the program shortly before a new application cycle was expected to begin.

The San Francisco AIDS Foundation, which runs the Strut clinic, was among the recipients preparing for renewal after regular communication with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff. The Chronicle reported that the awards had provided about $440,000 a year to recipients. CDC and OMB did not respond to the newspaper’s requests for comment. Advocates noted the program had been tied to Trump’s 2019 pledge to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, making the cut especially unexpected.

The CDC has extended the current funding cycle through September and sent local governments a notice about short-term supplemental money for HIV testing and prevention. San Francisco’s health department said it applied and would direct funds to the AIDS Foundation if awarded, but local leaders said the bridge money would last only until next May.

The Chronicle also reported that Tri-City Health Center in Fremont and East Bay AIDS Center in Oakland are the other Bay Area recipients affected. Advocates warned that the loss could undermine San Francisco’s “Getting to Zero” campaign, which has coincided with a drop in new HIV diagnoses from 326 in 2014 to 146 in 2024.