1. United States
2. Okla.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's reported plan to eliminate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) division focused on HIV prevention is extremely concerning. This division plays a crucial role in tracking HIV infections across the United States, conducting vital research on transmission, and promoting essential testing and prevention efforts like the use of PrEP, the HIV prevention pill. Dismantling this critical division could have devastating consequences. There are approximately 1.1 to 1.2 million people in the U.S. who are highly vulnerable to acquiring HIV. Every new transmission results in a lifetime of costs related to being HIV positive, both personal and financial. The progress made in reducing new HIV infections, particularly among younger populations, could be reversed without robust prevention efforts. Transitioning the CDC's HIV prevention work to another department like the Health Resources and Services Administration is unlikely to adequately address prevention needs. Their primary focus is on treatment for those already diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, not prevention efforts for vulnerable populations. Protecting the CDC's HIV prevention division is paramount to safeguarding public health and continuing the fight against this epidemic. Robust federal funding and support for this division's critical work must be maintained to prevent a resurgence of new HIV cases and all the human and economic costs that would entail. I urge you to take decisive action to keep this vital division intact and fully resourced.