RALEIGH, N.C. — (May 21) — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the NC AIDS Action Network came together today to spotlight the state’s progress in combating HIV—and to raise alarm about how proposed federal funding cuts could reverse decades of hard-won gains.
Speaking at a joint event, NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Dev Sangvai emphasized the urgent need for continued investment in HIV prevention, testing, and care efforts. “Sustained funding is essential, not only to prevent the spread of HIV but also to support the health and well-being of North Carolinians living with the virus,” Sangvai said. “Cuts would reverse hard-won gains and increase long-term costs for our state.”
North Carolina currently has 38,634 people living with HIV, and 1,385 people were newly diagnosed in 2024. While around 85% of individuals with HIV in the state are aware of their diagnosis, thousands remain undiagnosed—many due to a lack of access to testing services that are now at risk.
Impact of Potential Cuts
The most recent funding from the federal Ryan White Program, awarded in April through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), was approximately half of what the state received in previous years. With future funding uncertain and the proposed federal budget including zero dollars for HIV prevention, health officials are warning of severe consequences.
If these cuts proceed, officials say North Carolina could see:
- Increased transmission due to reduced access to PrEP and other cutting-edge prevention tools.
- Fewer diagnoses, as decreased funding limits free and accessible testing services.
- Delayed treatment, resulting in higher community viral loads and more people unknowingly spreading the virus.
- Greater impact in rural areas, where access to care and services is already limited.
- Loss of individualized outreach, which currently connects people with care and alerts potentially exposed individuals.
Additionally, proposals to cut Medicaid funding—the largest source of health coverage for people living with HIV—could exacerbate the situation. Many in North Carolina have only recently gained access to HIV care through Medicaid Expansion, a move that has significantly improved public health outcomes.
“Care Is Prevention”
Experts at the event stressed that modern HIV treatment is not just about improving the health of individuals—it also prevents further spread of the virus. People with HIV who are in care and achieve viral suppression do not transmit the virus to others. NCDHHS and its Division of Public Health continue to prioritize individualized outreach, culturally appropriate care, and stigma reduction efforts to ensure more people can safely access care and prevention services.
The threat of funding reductions comes at a pivotal moment when advances in medical science—such as long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—have brought the goal of ending the HIV epidemic within reach.
“We must renew our commitment,” Sangvai urged. “Cuts to these vital programs will not only set us back—they will cost lives.”
