Save HIV Funding Responds to Reports That HIV Rates in New York City Have Risen, Amid Proposed Federal Cuts to Essential and Life-Saving HIV Programs

New York, NY - Wednesday, December 10, 2025 - In response to news that HIV rates have risen in New York City, the Save HIV Funding Campaign today released a statement calling on New Yorkers to contact their federal representatives and let them know that cutting vital federal investment in HIV infrastructure would be devastating to their communities. According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's HIV Surveillance Annual Report, 2024, New York City saw a 5.4% increase in 2024 (or 1,791 new HIV diagnoses). As reported in The Gothamist, this follows a 6.9% increase from 2022 to 2023. While these increases happened before recent disruptions to domestic HIV funding, current threats to funding and infrastructure will only further increase HIV rates, as well as racial and gender disparities.

Statement by Jeremiah Johnson, co-founder, Save HIV funding Campaign, and Executive Director of PrEP4All: "At a moment when progress is slipping, federal leaders are considering cuts that would dismantle the very programs proven to prevent HIV, connect people to care, and keep communities healthy. This isn't just irresponsible - it's dangerous. With cases rising, any reduction in HIV funding puts lives at risk, undermines decades of public-health progress, and all but guarantees that these numbers will continue to climb. The message is unmistakable: now is the time to strengthen and expand HIV funding, not weaken it. Anything less is a failure of leadership and a failure to protect the people who rely on these lifesaving programs every day."

HIV FUNDING BACKGROUND IN NY:

New York stands to lose millions of dollars in critical HIV funding if the nearly $2B in cuts proposed by the House majority advance. With reduced federal funding for community-based services and health departments, we will see increased barriers to linking people to HIV prevention resources such as PrEP. This will be particularly devastating given cuts to Medicaid and ACA tax subsidies which will increase uninsurance rates, particularly among marginalized communities. Attacks on funding to address social determinants of health like homelessness and food insecurity will also contribute significantly to new HIV cases.

While New York City has a long history of innovation in HIV services, such as same day PrEP, PEP, and HIV treatment starts and express STI and HIV testing through the City's avant garde sexual health and wellness clinics, these recent HIV rate increases are likely a sign of the wear and tear on important safety net programs following years of flat federal funding, increased demands for services, and an expanded focus on co-occurring epidemics such as COVID-19 and mpox. Slashing federal resources to end the HIV epidemic at this critical moment has the potential to dramatically worsen health outcomes on a range of interrelated health issues not only for priority populations, but for the city as a whole.

HIV FUNDING FAST FACTS

To support reporters covering the urgent policy landscape, the campaign is releasing the following Fact Sheet outlining the impact, scale, and human stakes of ongoing funding threats. Save HIV Funding reminds journalists and storytellers reporting to include the state of HIV Funding in their storytelling this year:

Federal HIV programs have more than 35 years of bipartisan support: In 2003, President George W. Bush created PEPFAR (the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), which has saved 25 million lives worldwide. Domestically, Bush signed reauthorizations of the Ryan White CARE Act, expanding federal support for HIV care. Protecting HIV funding has historically been a bipartisan commitment to public health and stability.
Federal HIV programs are cost-effective: Every $1 invested in HIV prevention saves the health care system $3 to $7 in future treatment costs. Cuts would increase long-term spending.
Medicaid is the largest source of coverage for people with HIV in the U.S., covering roughly 40% of people living with HIV. Medicaid expansion has been associated with a 33% increase in PrEP prescriptions. Cuts to HIV funding would have ripple effects across the entire Medicaid system, limiting access to care for millions of low-income Americans.
HIV care is part of the U.S. health care system: Federal HIV funding supports access to preventive care, primary care, mental health services, housing, and medications. Cutting these funds would destabilize programs millions of Americans depend on - including those living with chronic conditions, low-income families, and uninsured people.
Over 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV, and over 500,000 rely on federal programs like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program for lifesaving medication and care.
HIV prevention funding protects everyone: The federal government funds access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a daily medication that reduces the vulnerability of HIV by 99%. Rolling back funding would increase new HIV cases and long-term costs to the health care system.
HIV funding is about more than one disease: These programs create a blueprint for coordinated, federally funded responses to health crises - from the opioid epidemic to COVID-19. Gutting HIV funding would weaken America's preparedness for future public health threats.
HIV funding protects vulnerable communities: Black and Latine communities account for more than 65% of new HIV diagnoses. Protecting these funds is about protecting racial and health equity.