1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has claimed countless lives, but through tireless scientific efforts and prevention initiatives, we have made immense progress in containing its spread and improving treatment options. The CDC's HIV Prevention Division has played a pivotal role in this battle, leading to a 12% decrease in new HIV infections between 2018 and 2022. Defunding or eliminating this division would undermine decades of progress and jeopardize our ability to monitor, diagnose, and prevent HIV cases nationwide. State budgets and the Department of Health and Human Services lack the resources and scope to effectively assume the critical functions of the CDC's HIV Prevention Division. Programs like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program serve those already diagnosed but are ill-equipped for prevention efforts. Allowing the spread of HIV to resurge would be a profound public health failure with severe human and financial costs. As a nation, we must continue moving forward, driven by science and a commitment to helping others. Preserving the CDC's HIV Prevention Division is not only a matter of public health but a testament to our values of compassion and progress. We cannot afford to backslide on our hard-won gains against this devastating epidemic.