U.S. Drops World AIDS Day Commemoration for First Time in 37 Years

For the first time in nearly four decades, the U.S. government will not formally recognize World AIDS Day on December 1 in a move that has sparked outrage among public health advocates and LGBTQ+ communities.

According to an internal email obtained by The New York Times, the U.S. State Department has instructed employees and grantees not to publicly acknowledge the day “through any communication channels, including social media, media engagements, speeches or other public-facing messaging.” The directive also bars the use of U.S. government funds to support any World AIDS Day-related observances.

The abrupt shift breaks with a tradition that dates back to 1988, when World Health Organization officials first launched the global health day to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, commemorate lives lost, and celebrate advancements in prevention and care. Every U.S. administration, including the current one, has publicly marked the day with statements, events, or reports.

Instead, the State Department claims that the administration’s policy is “to refrain from messaging on any commemorative days, including World AIDS Day.” However, the president has continued issuing proclamations for other national observances, raising questions about the selective nature of this silence.

The decision comes amid deep cuts to global HIV/AIDS funding.

Typically, the State Department releases its annual President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief progress report on World AIDS Day. As of now, it remains unclear whether the report will be issued this year at all.

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For advocates and those living with HIV, the absence of official recognition is more than symbolic.

“This is a calculated erasure of a global health crisis that disproportionately affects Black, brown, and queer communities,” said one Pittsburgh-based HIV educator who asked to remain anonymous for fear of funding retaliation. “We’re watching decades of hard-won progress being undermined by silence.”

World AIDS Day remains a powerful moment for remembrance, resistance, and renewed commitment even if the federal government chooses to look away.