HIV + Hepatitis Institute Welcomes RFK, Talks Importance of Ending the HIV Epidemic

The HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute issued a statement today welcoming Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services according to a news release.

“We stand ready to work with Secretary Kennedy as he and President Trump seek to improve the health of the American people. Ending infectious and chronic diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis, must be a vital component in the administration’s initiatives,” Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute said in the news release. “We were pleased that Kennedy went on record during his confirmation process and stated, ‘I look forward to continuing the good work that President Trump did in his pursuit to eradicate HIV/AIDS.’”

Today’s release also includes a transcript of the Jan. 29 confirmation hearing where Kennedy states, “I believe HIV is the cause of AIDS” and says he supports funding to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, specifically, “all appropriate prevention programs, including those which include pre-exposure prophylaxis.”

On Jan. 14, 2025, the organization addressed letters to Senate HELP and Finance Committee members asking them to consider Kennedy’s previous comments that stated he believed AIDS was caused by environmental factors including poppers (amyl nitrite) not HIV. They also added questions to ask when considering his nomination that included:

• Do you agree that the HIV virus causes the infectious disease that leads to AIDS?
• Will you commit to a comprehensive approach to addressing HIV by continuing the Ending the HIV Epidemic program started under President Trump, fully funding the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, supporting a robust prevention program at the CDC that includes pre-exposure prophylaxis, and investing in HIV research programs at the NIH?

During his first term, President Trump launched the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative which aims to reduce the amount of HIV in the United States cases 90% by 2030. The plan relies on four strategies: diagnose, treat, prevent and respond with a focus on the 57 jurisdictions with the highest rates of transmission.

“To deliver on the promise of eradicating HIV will require a commitment to science, properly funded public health treatment and prevention programs, and policies that support all populations impacted by HIV,” Schmid continues. “It will also require access to affordable and comprehensive health coverage, including private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare.”