Trump Administration Cuts $600M in Public Health Funding, Threatening California HIV Programs

Critics warn the cuts could reverse progress in combating HIV and disproportionately impact LGBTQ+ communities

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Trump administration has decided to cut $600 million in federal public health funding, with the majority of the reductions targeting critical HIV prevention and detection programs in California. Public health experts warn these cuts could lead to a resurgence of HIV cases, particularly in underserved LGBTQ+ communities. The administration's justification for the cuts has been widely dismissed as politically motivated and detached from scientific evidence.

Why it matters

The success of recent decades in combating HIV has been attributed to early detection and treatment. These cuts threaten to reverse that progress by defunding key surveillance programs and front-line service providers. Experts emphasize the disproportionate impact on LGBTQ+ communities and other vulnerable populations who already face significant barriers to healthcare access.

The details

The majority of the funding reductions are aimed at California, impacting critical programs like the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Project. This program is described as a 'critical' early-warning system for emerging HIV trends. The administration's justification for the cuts centers around claims that the targeted programs 'promote DEI and radical gender ideology,' a rationale that has been widely dismissed by public health officials as politically motivated. Front-line service providers, such as the Los Angeles LGBT Center, are also facing significant reductions in funding for community HIV prevention programs.

  • In June of last year, congressional Democrats successfully pressured the administration to restore $19.8 million in frozen HIV prevention grants to Los Angeles County.
  • The Los Angeles LGBT Center secured a preliminary injunction last year that prevented the administration from 'weaponizing Congressionally appropriated funds'.

The players

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The current Health and Human Services Secretary, who has reportedly steered the CDC away from evidence-backed HIV monitoring and prevention programs.

Dr. Paul Simon

An epidemiologist at UCLA who described the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Project as 'critical'.

Joe Hollendoner

The Chief Executive of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, which is set to lose $383,000 in funding for community HIV prevention programs.

Representative Laura Friedman

A Democratic representative from Burbank, California, who vowed to fight back against the current cuts, stating 'These grants save lives.'

Governor Gavin Newsom

The Governor of California, who characterized the administration's threats as a 'familiar pattern' and expressed skepticism about their legal viability.

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What’s next

The Los Angeles LGBT Center has a history of successfully challenging the administration's attempts to cancel grants, and the center is prepared to pursue further litigation if necessary to protect its community. Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed skepticism about the legal viability of the administration's cuts and indicated the state is prepared to respond legally if the administration proceeds.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing political battles over public health funding, particularly when it comes to programs that serve vulnerable communities. It underscores the importance of early detection and treatment in combating diseases like HIV, and the potential consequences of cutting funding for these critical initiatives.