In a move that further erases marginalized communities, the Trump administration ordered federal agencies not to observe World AIDS Day— ending a tradition upheld by every president since 1988. World AIDS Day has long been recognized worldwide, with both Republican and Democratic administrations marking the occasion. Last year, President Joe Biden hosted the first White House display of panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Even during Donald Trump’s first term, the day was acknowledged, though without mention of LGBTQ+ people.
But according to an internal email reviewed by The New York Times and first reported by Substack columnist Emily Bass, State Department employees and grantees were instructed to “refrain from publicly promoting World AIDS Day through any communication channels.” The email claimed it reflects a broader policy “to refrain from messaging on any commemorative days, including World AIDS Day.” A follow-up email from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reportedly repeated the restrictions but omitted language allowing staff to still discuss HIV work.
State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott defended the policy, saying, “An awareness day is not a strategy.” However, the backlash was swift. Bass called the silence shameful, adding, Silence=Death. Activist Peter Staley said the move “just seems petty and hostile,” comparing it to the Reagan era.
