US Businesses Are Here to Help the Trump Administration Keep its Pledge to End HIV

Stephen Massey
Image credit: Meteorite

In 2019, President Donald J. Trump set a historic goal: end the HIV epidemic in the United States by 2030. It was a bold vision that rallied unprecedented support across sectors, including from leaders in the business community who’ve stepped up to help achieve that goal. Over the past several years, more than 100 companies across all 50 states have joined the effort to fulfill this vision, launching new initiatives to drive greater awareness, encourage HIV testing, and expand access to care and prevention. They are leaders across industries––from energy and tech to healthcare and retail—who understand what’s at stake, not only for public health but also for workforce productivity, national competitiveness, and the well-being of the American economy.

They’re not just making a moral commitment—they’re making a strategic investment in their workforce and the communities where they operate.

But this progress is now at risk. The US Supreme Court is currently considering a case that could significantly weaken the Affordable Care Act’s requirement to cover preventive services—putting at risk access to PrEP, a medication that provides near-complete protection against HIV when used consistently. Simultaneously, the federal government is considering cuts to funding for domestic HIV prevention and treatment programs. These legal and budgetary threats couldn’t come at a worse time. After decades of bipartisan investment and public health progress, we risk reversing hard-won gains, driving up new transmissions, and abandoning a once-in-a-generation opportunity to end the HIV epidemic in the US.

The economic stakes are real: our nation spends up to seven times more on the healthcare costs for people living with HIV than for those without. Expanding access to HIV prevention and treatment has consistently delivered results—reducing new transmissions and improving lives. For employers, this translates into healthier workers, reduced insurance costs, and more resilient communities—a return on investment every business leader can support.

Beyond the scope of a single company’s interests, the national benefit is clear. President Trump’s Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative empowers communities to reduce transmission through strategic investments in the areas most impacted. These targeted investments are working: jurisdictions receiving enhanced support have seen a 21% decline in new HIV transmissions—nearly double the national average.

Learn more: The Business Sector's Advocacy to Maintain Funding for HIV Prevention, Research, Treatment

With continued federal investment in HIV prevention, America can prevent 255,000 new transmissions over the next five years, saving taxpayers and businesses over $216 billion in lifetime healthcare treatment costs.

American companies—and the American economy—benefit when we have a strong, coordinated federal response to HIV. With just five years left to meet President Trump’s 2030 goal, we stand at a crossroads. The science, the business case, and the policy roadmap are clear. What’s needed now is the political will and federal funding investments to finish what we started.

This was a historic promise—and the companies in our coalition are committed to helping President Trump and our government honor it with the urgency and leadership it deserves.