The Biden administration’s reckless use of HIV/AIDS funds to finance gender-affirming care is coming to an end. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is now taking decisive action to ensure that taxpayer dollars are dedicated solely to the treatment of HIV/AIDS, not misappropriated for unrelated procedures.

Under the previous administration, federal funds were hijacked to cover transgender surgeries and hormone treatments, distorting the true purpose of programs like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Drug Assistance Program. This was a clear overreach, and it’s time to put an end to this misuse of resources.

HHS has clearly laid out its intent to prevent funds from being diverted from their intended use. “The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is a lifeline for thousands of Americans living with HIV, and HRSA will not allow funds to be diverted from their true purpose,” stated HRSA Administrator Tom Engels. Every single dollar must go towards HIV/AIDS-related treatment and cannot be squandered on unnecessary sex trait modification medications.

To reinforce this commitment, HHS is posting a “Notice of Funding Opportunity” which explicitly states that the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Emergency Relief Funds are strictly reserved for legitimate HIV/AIDS treatments. If any hormone therapy is deemed medically necessary for treating HIV/AIDS, it will be covered. However, any funding tied to sex-trait modification will receive no backing.

This crackdown is crucial, especially in light of some states’ alarming misuse of federal funds for hormonal treatments aimed at gender transition, often without any medical necessity. For instance, the District of Columbia openly allocated funds for transgender hormone treatments using the federal 340B program—an outrageous exploitation of the system.

Furthermore, HHS has asserted that drug rebates generated from federal funding are strictly for HIV/AIDS purposes. This message is not ambiguous: “All rebates generated through ADAP must be used for RWHAP Part B activities, with priority given to ADAP.” There is no room for misinterpretation.

HHS’s actions are a powerful reminder that we must safeguard the integrity of programs designed to assist vulnerable populations living with HIV. The health of thousands is at stake, and there’s no justification for allowing funds to flounder in unrelated initiatives. We can and will keep our promise to those living with HIV/AIDS by ensuring that every cent is utilized properly, effectively, and justifiably for their care.