Blog 9/18/25

Possible Government Shutdown Looming, Equitas Health Fights for HIV Program Funding on Capitol Hill

COLUMBUS, OH – With the federal government’s annual budget deadline rapidly approaching, Congress has only 3 working days left to pass an appropriations package. With the White House requesting over $2 billion in cuts to HIV treatment, prevention, and resource programs and an additional $1.37 billion from AIDS research, Equitas Health continues to fight for life-saving funds on Capitol Hill.

Equitas Health has previously spoken out about federal funding cuts to Medicaid, funding delays for HIV/STI prevention programs, and attacks on America’s healthcare safety net. And once more, the organization is advocating for access to care in the halls of Congress.

Alongside industry partners from ViiV Healthcare, the Equitas Health team interacted with more than 10 congressional offices last week. In doing so, advocates discussed several key policy issues, including:

• Funding HIV treatment, prevention, and resource programs, which face a proposed $1.5 billion cut in the House Appropriations Committee’s fiscal year 2026 budget;
• Investing in healthcare services for elders, who are aging with HIV;
• Supporting community health centers, which are leading the fight against chronic illnesses;
• Ensuring continued coverage for telehealth services, which expires in September 2025; and more.

Regarding proposed cuts to public health, David Ernesto Munar (he/him), CEO and president of Equitas Health said, “These cuts are a devastating attack on trusted and effective public health programs…Weakening the federal government’s commitment to public health will cause rates of preventable and chronic conditions to soar. Costs will rise for patients and taxpayers. And people will die.”

With budget negotiations lagging, House Republicans, on Tuesday, proposed stop-gap legislation to fund the government for an additional 7 weeks. The bill – called a continuing resolution or CR – would extend funding through November 21, 2025, and provide lawmakers with more time to negotiate a full fiscal year 2026 budget.

However, the threat of a government shutdown looms, and 4 House Republicans have suggested they may vote against the package, which is expected to receive a vote on Friday. Even if the bill clears this hurdle in the House, it faces an uphill battle in the Senate. While not all federal programs halt immediately during a government shutdown, effects will be felt across the country.

Reflecting upon the agency’s continued work on Capitol Hill, Candace Janidlo (she/her), legislative affairs manager at Equitas Health said, “We are continuing to work with congressional leaders and members of the Ohio delegation to advocate for a federal budget that fully funds HIV treatment, prevention, and resource programs.”

Considering the potential for a government shutdown, Rhea Debussy, PhD (she/her), director of External Affairs at Equitas Health said, “A short-term CR would prevent a government shutdown, but the issue of creating a long-term appropriations package that works for the American people remains. We urge bipartisan action to protect America’s healthcare safety net from the devastating cuts requested by the White House.”

Equitas Health – which recently received a prestigious, national designation for advocacy – continues to monitor these ongoing developments, while also engaging members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. 

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