U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his proposed 2021 fiscal budget, which asks for $716 million in funding to kick start his initiative, “Ending The HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America” to wipe out any new HIV infections.
This is $425 million more than the allocated amount Congress provided in December.
Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir said $716 million is new money to be invested in the program.
A large portion of the $716 million (or $673 million) will be allocated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HIV Prevention programs and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program. Another $27 million will be provided to the Indian Health Service, which received no funding in the 2020 economic year. This agency provides programs dedicated to slowing down the spread of HIV in the American Indian community while also providing medical care for people who are HIV-positive.
The initiative was announced during the 2019 State of the Union address.
According to Giroir, in his message to the Presidents’ Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, Trump is committed to ensuring the goals he brought forth in 2019 come to fruition. Trump often asks about HIV including what progress is being made and what more must be done.
Written by Mark Riegel, MD
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