The Trump-Vance administration has reportedly cancelled more than $800 million in federal funding for research focused on the health of sexual and gender minority communities, according to a detailed report published Sunday by The New York Times.
This move affects dozens of major research programs, including projects that study HIV, cancer, and other illnesses that disproportionately affect LGBTQ people across the United States.
Majority of Cuts Target LGBTQ-Linked Illnesses
The report states that more than half of the cancelled grants through early May were part of National Institutes of Health (NIH) programs. These included research on viruses and cancers that mainly impact lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals.
Key institutions affected include Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University, and several public universities across the country.
Florida Program Among the Hardest Hit
One of the largest cuts involved a $41 million grant to Florida State University, which was supporting a major HIV prevention program for adolescents and young adults.
This age group accounts for about 20% of new HIV infections in the U.S. each year. Experts say cancelling the program could set back progress in reducing HIV transmission among young people.
A Shift From Past Policies
These funding cuts represent a dramatic shift from previous administrations.
The Obama-Biden administration had significantly increased support for LGBTQ health research. Even during his first term, President Trump supported major initiatives such as Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States, which aimed to reduce HIV infections nationwide.
However, since the beginning of Trump’s second term, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. serving as Health and Human Services Secretary, federal support for LGBTQ health programs has sharply declined.
Future of HIV Epidemic Initiative Uncertain
With the cancellation of this funding, many researchers fear that the future of the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative is now at risk.
Public health experts warn that halting this research could worsen health outcomes for LGBTQ communities and cause a rise in preventable infections and diseases, especially among young people who already face barriers to healthcare.