The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Tuesday that it will not reauthorize direct federal grants to community-based organizations (CBOs) for HIV prevention. Instead, the agency will route these funds to state and local health departments, which will then determine how to distribute the money to local partners.
In an email to staff, the CDC's National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention (NCHHSTP) confirmed it would not renew the cooperative agreement titled 'Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. through Community-Based Partnerships.' This program previously funded dozens of organizations directly. The current awards have been granted a three-month extension through September 2026, after which the direct funding stream will end.
Department of Health and Human Services Press Secretary Emily Hilliard stated that the change is intended to streamline funding and prioritize local decision-making based on regional data. Hilliard noted that the CDC remains committed to supporting HIV testing, diagnosis, and access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
Critics of the change, including some CDC employees and the Save HIV Funding coalition, stated that routing money through state governments increases administrative overhead and reduces the total funds reaching frontline groups. They also expressed concern that local political factors could influence which organizations receive subcontracts and argued that removing direct CDC oversight could lead to gaps in technical support for community groups.