CHICAGO — As federal lawmakers weigh a proposal to slash $793 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) budget, Chicago health providers are warning that such a move could devastate HIV prevention programs in Illinois and beyond.
At Howard Brown Health in Lakeview, a nationally recognized LGBTQ+ health provider, leaders say the impact could be catastrophic.
“We are a primary health provider that has historically served the LGBTQ+ community,” said Dr. Travis Gayles, CEO of Howard Brown Health.
The proposed budget would eliminate or sharply reduce funding for several CDC-backed initiatives that have led to a 20% decrease in HIV infections nationally over the past 15 years, thanks to expanded education, medication access, and outreach.
Illinois’ “Getting to Zero” Strategy at Risk
Illinois has long been committed to ending new HIV cases through its “Getting to Zero” initiative — a strategy designed to bring new transmissions down to zero through prevention and early intervention. According to state data, every case prevented saves an estimated $250,000 in healthcare costs.
But advocates warn that cutting prevention now could cost far more later.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” said Timothy Jackson of AIDS Foundation Chicago, which receives nearly 40% of its budget from the CDC.
“With these cuts, we could see 200,000 new HIV cases nationwide in the coming years.”
Why Local Providers Are Furious
The AIDS Foundation Chicago, Howard Brown Health, and other Illinois-based organizations say the cuts come at a time when the federal government already has a proven roadmap for reducing HIV.
Dr. Gayles emphasized that there’s no excuse for walking away from effective strategies:
“We have a playbook and toolkit that works. We don’t have to be in that space.”
The initial commitment to robust HIV funding came during the Trump administration, but this year’s proposed budget by President Biden’s administration zeroes out multiple prevention efforts — an unexpected move that has drawn bipartisan criticism.
“It’s disappointing and it’s insulting,” Dr. Gayles added. “We’re being hamstrung as a medical and clinical community.”
Impact Across All 102 Illinois Counties
Jackson warned the damage wouldn’t be limited to major cities like Chicago:
“These cuts are going to impact people living with and vulnerable to HIV in all 102 counties in Illinois.”
With the proposal still awaiting Congressional action, local health officials are urging residents and lawmakers to push back and protect funding for programs that have saved thousands of lives.
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