December 1 marked World AIDS Day, a day designated to remember those lost because of the epidemic and to aspire for further treatment development. The United States government decided not to recognize the day for the first time since its creation in 1988.
The day is commemorated as part of an initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) to end Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, better known as AIDS, by 2030. This initiative rallies for political leadership and cooperation to prevent the further spread of the disease. The WHO placed an emphasis on the day of remembrance this year because of the current decline in response to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Since the beginning of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, the United States has been a key player in supplying aid to developing countries, who are often most affected by the disease. The United States supplied antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to treat cases and donated pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for prevention through the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID). However, USAID and programs like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) created by President George W. Bush, have been cut in funding during the Trump Administration.
2025 marks the first year since 1988 that the United States has not officially commemorated World AIDS Day. Presidents Ronald Reagen, Goerge H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden have all commemorated the day. Even President Donald Trump issued proclamations each year on World AIDS Day during his first term as president.
NPR claims that the State Department chose not to celebrate the day this year saying they are “modernizing their approach to countering infectious diseases”
Democratic New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, best known for his 25-hour speech on the Senate floor, has taken to commemorating the day himself. He claims that the United States must continue its support in global initiatives to end the HIV and AIDS epidemic and urged for strong leadership within the United States, despite political disagreements.
However, even without assistance from the United States, countries across the globe stood in solidarity to commemorate the day. The theme this year was “Rethink. Rebuild. Rise” and the United Nations and WHO have worked to honor this. They announced expanded access to several drugs to treat the 40 million individuals living with AIDS, and even more tools to prevent the disease.
Global organizations stress that even without aid from the United States and other significant challenges they may face, there is still power to change the course of the epidemic.
Kara Hopkins
News Editor
