On December 1, 2025, as communities worldwide gathered to honor World AIDS Day, the United States federal government made a striking departure from decades of tradition: it did not officially recognize the day. For the first time since the World Health Organization established World AIDS Day in 1988, the U.S. government abstained from issuing a proclamation, holding commemorative events, or allowing federal resources to be used for the occasion. The move, part of a broader shift in federal policy and funding priorities, has left many advocates, health professionals, and people living with HIV feeling both frustrated and deeply concerned about the future of HIV/AIDS prevention and care.
While the federal government stood silent, local communities and organizations across the country pressed on, determined not to let the day pass unnoticed. In Los Angeles, hundreds gathered at The Wall Las Memorias’ AIDS Monument in Lincoln Heights for the 32nd annual Noche de las Memorias. The event, held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., featured a candlelight ceremony where the names of 36 people newly inscribed on the monument—lives lost to AIDS-related illnesses—were unveiled. Families shared heartfelt testimonials, and Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles performed, all under the guidance of Fox 11’s Laura Diaz. The event, free to attend, underscored the urgent need to restore HIV testing, prevention, and education services, especially after recent federal funding cuts that have disproportionately affected underserved communities in Los Angeles. According to the event’s organizers, the day also marked the anniversary of The Wall Las Memorias organization, which has served Latino, LGBTQ, and other marginalized populations through advocacy, education, and community-building since 1993.
The absence of federal recognition this year was not an isolated decision. As reported by The New York Times and confirmed by the State Department, the Trump administration instructed employees and grantees not to use U.S. government funds to commemorate World AIDS Day, citing a policy “to refrain from messaging on any commemorative days, including World AIDS Day.” The State Department’s official statement framed the move as part of a modernization effort: “An awareness day is not a strategy,” a spokesperson said, adding that the administration is “working directly with foreign governments to save lives and increase their responsibility and burden sharing.”
For many, these words rang hollow. Activists and public health leaders quickly pointed out that awareness days like World AIDS Day play a crucial role in maintaining political will, funding, and public attention for an epidemic that still claims more than half a million lives each year. Mitchell Warren, executive director of AVAC, a global HIV prevention organization, told NPR, “I think it’s emblematic of an administration that doesn’t seem to care.” Asia Russell, executive director of Health GAP, echoed this sentiment, describing the decision as “truly depraved and outrageous.” Russell emphasized that commemorative days are “life-saving work to chip away at that deadly stigma.”
Protests erupted outside the White House on December 1, with demonstrators demanding the restoration of funding and a return to leadership in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The U.S. has historically been the top financial supporter of global HIV/AIDS efforts, most notably through President George W. Bush’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has invested more than $110 billion since its launch in 2003. However, since the start of President Trump’s second term, the administration has made significant cuts to global health spending, disrupting HIV/AIDS care in countries such as Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, and Kenya, according to UNAIDS. The UNAIDS report for World AIDS Day this year warned of “ruinous consequences” if such funding reductions continue.
It’s not just global programs feeling the strain. In the United States, cities like Atlanta are grappling with some of the highest HIV rates in the country. According to CDC data, Atlanta has ranked third nationwide for new HIV diagnoses since 2021. Johneri’o Scott, a Mableton resident living with HIV and known as @JScottV on TikTok, uses his platform to educate and reduce stigma around the disease. “World AIDS Day means… amazing to me. It means life to me,” Scott told CBS News Atlanta. Diagnosed ten years ago, he’s transformed fear into purpose, answering questions and sharing his story—even when faced with cruel comments. “Not wanting to recognize World AIDS Day is just… like not recognizing the growth,” he said. Scott’s central message is clear: “I just want everyone to get tested… at least every 3 to 6 months.”
Public health experts warn that the lack of federal recognition, combined with funding cuts, could undermine prevention and care efforts in communities already facing barriers to testing and treatment. Dr. David Malebranche, a physician and HIV researcher with Gilead Sciences, remarked to CBS News Atlanta, “To hear that the government says we’re not going to recognize this is kind of jarring.”
In Minneapolis, the Aliveness Project—a nonprofit supporting people living with HIV—has also felt the impact of state and federal funding cuts. Matt Toburen, the organization’s executive director, described the situation to MPR News as “heartbreaking” and “a slap in the face.” Toburen stressed, “The fight against HIV is non-partisan. And presidents of both parties have done a lot, a lot of leadership in the United States, in the world to prevent and end HIV. And it just doesn’t make sense.” He emphasized that World AIDS Day is a time to honor those lost, celebrate those living with HIV, and recommit to ending the epidemic. “We know we can get to an end to HIV. And we need to lean into that and move forward. And we can’t stop now.”
Funding challenges have forced organizations like the Aliveness Project to stretch resources thin while continuing to provide “wraparound services”—not just testing and medication, but also food, housing, case management, and community support. “Living a healthy life is more than just taking a pill,” Toburen explained. “If you’re hungry, and you don’t know where your next meal is going to come from, you’re not going to prioritize your health care, your taking your HIV medications.” The organization also hosts events like the Red Undie Run to raise awareness and funds for HIV prevention and care.
Despite the lack of federal participation, some state governments stepped up. California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation officially recognizing December 1 as World AIDS Day in California for the first time, pointedly contrasting the state’s stance with the federal government’s retreat. “California will not be silent,” Newsom declared, highlighting the urgent need to restore HIV services, especially in underserved communities.
As the U.S. government recedes from its traditional role in the fight against HIV/AIDS, local leaders, advocates, and people living with HIV are left to carry the torch—reminding the nation that the epidemic is far from over, and that silence, whether intentional or not, can be deadly.
