Trump Budget Office Is Withholding H.I.V. Funds That Congress Appropriated

The Trump administration's budget office is withholding a significant portion of the funds Congress allocated for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a critical HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment program. Congress appropriated $6 billion for PEPFAR this fiscal year, but the administration has signaled it will only release less than half of that amount. This move has drawn criticism from lawmakers and public health advocates, who argue that withholding these funds will undermine efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic both domestically and globally. PEPFAR has been widely recognized as a successful bipartisan initiative, and the funding cuts could jeopardize progress made in expanding access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy and prevention services. The decision to withhold these funds is seen by many as a concerning step that could have serious consequences for vulnerable populations affected by HIV/AIDS.