The United States did not officially commemorate World AIDS Day this year, marking the first time since the World Health Organization (WHO) established the observance in 1988.
This decision departs from prior U.S. participation, which traditionally involved remembering individuals who died from AIDS-related illnesses and reaffirming efforts against the epidemic.
Administration's Stance
The State Department issued a statement asserting that "an awareness day is not a strategy." Tommy Pigott, a spokesperson for the department, confirmed the decision, indicating that the country is "modernizing our approach to countering infectious diseases." He added that under the current administration, the State Department is "working directly with foreign governments to save lives and increase their responsibility and burden sharing." President Trump had no public events planned for the day, and State Department employees were instructed not to mark the occasion.
Contrast with Previous Years and International Practice
In the preceding year, former President Joe Biden hosted a White House ceremony featuring the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Globally, other nations observed World AIDS Day through proclamations, public health campaigns, and commemorative ceremonies.
Impact on Global HIV/AIDS Efforts
The U.S. has historically been the primary financial contributor to the global fight against HIV/AIDS, largely through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has invested over $110 billion since its 2003 launch. Since the beginning of the second term of the current administration, reductions in global health spending and programming have been implemented. This aligns with an "America First" approach emphasizing countries' eventual independence from foreign aid. According to UNAIDS, these adjustments have affected HIV/AIDS care, making medication access challenging for some HIV-positive individuals in countries such as Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, and Kenya. A UNAIDS report for this year's World AIDS Day warned of "ruinous consequences" from such reductions in international aid, a trend also noted in other countries like France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Reactions and Activist Concerns
HIV/AIDS activists expressed opposition to the decision. Mitchell Warren, executive director of AVAC, a global HIV prevention organization, commented on the implications. Asia Russell, executive director of Health GAP, a global HIV advocacy organization, stated that the decision evoked memories of the early stages of the HIV/AIDS fight, when the disease faced significant stigma and was less recognized as a public health crisis. Protesters gathered outside the White House, advocating for the restoration of funding. Russell highlighted that medical advancements have improved the combat against new HIV infections and increased access to treatment. She added that World AIDS Day "only exists on the calendar because of pressure from people with HIV and their communities fighting back against stigma," and described a commemorative day as "life-saving work to chip away at that deadly stigma."
Broader Context of Administration Policy
The administration's approach to World AIDS Day is consistent with its broader stance on multilateral organizations, including the WHO and the United Nations. The administration has criticized such organizations and the WHO's handling of specific global health issues. For example, the process for the U.S. to withdraw from the WHO was initiated. However, the administration has officially recognized other UN-designated days, such as World Autism Awareness Day.