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HIV prevention grants stalled as DC Health awaits CDC award; housing and hotline at risk
Summary
DC Health told the Council on June 16 that a planned CDC HIV prevention and surveillance award (PS-24-047) was not issued on schedule and that the agency has issued stop-work orders to about 14 subgrantees while it awaits notice, putting PrEP housing and a 24-hour PEP hotline at risk.
Council Chair Christina Henderson began a dedicated segment on HOSTA (HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB Administration) at the June 16 oversight hearing and asked DC Health officials to explain grant shortfalls and program impacts.
Grant delay: DC Health staff told the committee the CDC grant PS-24-047 (HIV prevention and surveillance) was not awarded on schedule on June 1, 2025, and the agency has received no timetable from CDC. "There were about 14 [subgrantees], and it was a little over $2,000,000 [that we stopped work on]," the agency said. The full award was expected to be approximately $6.3 million.
Immediate program impacts: DC Health said it has not discontinued the PrEP housing program or the 24-hour PEP hotline, but both programs would need to be scaled back this summer if the federal funds do not arrive. Agency testimony quantified the risk: PrEP housing funding at roughly $400,000 supports eight participants whose housing would be jeopardized if the award is not received; the 24-hour PEP hotline funding and medication assistance would need to be curtailed to in-wellness-center hours only.
Wider effects: The agency said the loss of the CDC award also prompted reduced awards across HIV prevention contracts and other grants supporting community organizations, including groups that testified at prior hearings. DC Health acknowledged earlier personnel reductions tied to combined grants and staffing changes earlier in the fiscal year; the agency had already reduced vacancies and field positions when prior awards shifted.
Agency request: Director Bennett and HOSTA deputies asked the committee and Council colleagues to prioritize local funding if the federal award does not materialize. "HIV prevention and surveillance for sure. That's where the money is at highest risk," the agency said when asked which areas to prioritize.
Ending: The committee indicated it would consider one-time or recurring local funding to backfill critical prevention, surveillance and housing supports while asking for quick follow-up figures on which specific grantees and services would be affected.
