Fact Sheet: The Harmful Impact of HHS Layoffs on LGBTQ+ Public Health

1. Loss of STI and HIV Surveillance & Response Teams:
Role: These teams track and contain STI and HIV outbreaks, ensuring timely interventions.

Impact: Without them, outbreaks (e.g., the current one in Maine; also Shelby County, TN) become harder to control, leading to increased transmission rates.

2. Dismantling of the PrEP Implementation Branch:

Role: This branch worked to expand access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a key tool in HIV prevention.

Impact: LGBTQ+ individuals will have reduced access to information and resources about PrEP, risking higher HIV rates.

3. Elimination of the Medical Monitoring Project (MMP):

Role: The MMP tracked vital data on people living with HIV, including treatment effectiveness and viral suppression rates.

Impact: Loss of this data makes it harder to assess and improve care for people living with HIV, especially transgender individuals who face greater barriers to care.

4. Loss of Data on Long-Acting HIV Treatment:
Role: The CDC collected crucial data on the use of long-acting HIV treatments and clinical care visits.

Impact: This data helped improve treatment access and delivery; its loss delays access to newer, more effective treatments, particularly for marginalized groups.

5. Cutting HIV Public Awareness Campaigns:

Role: Funding for HIV-related campaigns aimed at testing, prevention, and PrEP uptake in high-risk communities.

Impact: The elimination of these culturally responsive campaigns will reduce HIV awareness and engagement in Black, Latine, and LGBTQ+ populations.

6. Shutdown of the HIV Science Translation Branch:

Role: This branch translated scientific advancements in HIV prevention and treatment into real-world interventions.

Impact: Without this branch, critical HIV breakthroughs may take longer to reach affected communities, limiting their life-saving impact and scale prolonging long documented disparities.