Here’s an unsettling bit of not-all-that-surprising news from President Trump’s proposed budget cuts:
According to a new White House document distributed to congressional appropriators, Trump is calling on a $1.23 billion cut in funding to the National Institutes of Health, a major biomedical research facility under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Of that $1.23 billion, the hardest hit program would be a $300 million cut to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which aims to eradicate HIV/AIDS and treat those affected by the disease.
Bloomberg reports that this would be done by reducing the number of patients accepted into the program, and defunding “low-performing countries.”
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Also on Trump’s dream chopping block of NIH cuts is $100 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for block grants and $50 million from a program that helps spread biomedical research grants around the U.S.
Related: Paul Ryan’s Freudian slip says it all
Ross Murray, director of programs at Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), had this to say about today’s revelation:
“These cuts continue to erase LGBTQ people by cutting vital #HIV and #AIDS research,” Murray tweeted. “Research, education, testing and treatment are how we are going to get to 0 new infections. The Trump budget will set us back.”
It’s important to note that Trump’s budget proposal is just that — a proposal. In total, he’s called on $18 billion to be cut from non-military government programs in fiscal 2017.
Congress is tasked with setting spending levels, and it’s not expected that many of the extreme cuts will see their way through to becoming law.
That being said, these are the cuts President Trump would make if the decision was his alone, and thank god it’s not.
As Bloomberg notes:
Asked if there was a chance the cuts would be implemented, Senator Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican who serves on the Appropriations Committee, said “No. No.”
Juanjo
But Trump said he loved the gays when he was campaigning. Right?
Juanjo
More seriously here we have the classic republican agenda. Health care is for those who can afford it. So lets cut the money used for AIDS research and treatment. After all retrovirals are only about 1200 to 1500 a month so if it is really important, those gays will do without a new cell phone and buy their meds – right?
And those minimum wage earning straight people who are injured in a car accident and end up addicted to pain pills will just have to kick their opiate habits all on their little lonesome. After all Pence cut off funding in Indiana for these programs as well as for PP who was providing STD testing and treatment in many poor counties in Indiana back when he was governor. Nothing happened but a wholesale increase in STDs as well as HIV and lots of people dying of drug related issues.
Social Darwinism at its finest.
He BGB
I remember I think it was George Bush who said people could find alot of those cut services at their CHURCH. Typical republican rationale. Go into Iraq for a war costing billions. Cut the arts and HIV spending, Meals on Wheels. The New Guy wants to be the head of a huge trillion dollar defense and HIV spending can help pay for it, right? People will die but he looks Big and Powerful in front of a huge army.
Xzamilloh
What was Trump’s presidency supposed to usher in, gay conservatives for Trump? I seriously want to know if you think Trump is bringing about the change you were looking for…
arcoarconcio_passivy
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arcoarconcio_passivy
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Giancarlo85
This is obvious if he can get it before his impeachment and multiple impending indictments involving his administration.
News is Manafort and Flynn are spilling the beans.
On this topic, what did you expect? Idiot gay conservatives will continue to defend and lose whatever dignity they had left!
natekerchel
Well it is doubtful he will get his budget through Congress in the first place. This story is absolutely no surprise – we already knew he wanted to get the gay vote by pretending he was not homophobe in chief, and letting Pence take the primary role. Trump has a problem within the Republican party – the Freedom Caucus. An extreme right wing group of Congressmen who are prepared to block any proposed legislation or proposed budget that does not go as far as they want it to. We saw them in action over healthcare. They are not happy with his proposed budget – its not mean enough for them. It is saying something when trump is regarded as not extreme enough. Gone are the days of any ‘liberal Republicans’.
Neonegro
In 2017, it is not the Trump budget that will set us back.
It is irresponsible behavior that will set us back.
There is a great amount of waste in all government agencies.
The same work could probably be done with less money.
Juanjo
Oh Jesus dancing on a cracker, this idiot is posting again. Don’t mind the troll folks.
natekerchel
Yes let’s cut the budget affecting real people’s lives under the guise of ‘savings’ while we continue to pay for more than 7000, and counting, unnecessary weapons of mass destruction. Let’s increase the already bloated military budget – because that will feed the poorest people and provide basic health care for the poor and not go towards invading other people’s countries and leaving a bigger mess behind. The right wing always claim that ‘savings’ can be made – but never in any area that they approve of e.g the military, tax cuts for the rich and paying for the ‘unusual’ lifestyle of the trump family.
DCguy
Ho interesting, do you also support cuts to cancer research, diabetes research, etc…
Oh wait, that’s right, those aren’t considered “Gay Diseases” but anti-lgbt bigots like you, so THOSE are ok.
DCguy
Oh, and lastly, before you CLAIM that there is “probably” waste, why don’t you come up with some examples. All of the big Pharma companies have benefitted from the research done by the NIH.
Oh, but that’s right, the anti-lgbt right wing bigots, like you, are FINE with all of our tax dollars flooding overseas to Iraq and into campaign donor pockets, but if ANY of it is used for ANYTHING that remotely benefits actual U.S. taxpayers for things like health, education, transportation, THAT is wrong.
dwes09
Here is the apotheosis of “mobro’s” troll career. The post that shows his utter lack of thought and the reality of him as a white “values conservative” evangelical here to upset gay men.
By “irresponsible behavior” do you mean monies spent on the empathetic pursuit of remedies to complex public health problems? Or are you simply blaming the “sinner” for their “choice” to sin?
And when did “probably” as part of an opinion based on itself become a valid criteria on which to base policy? What research and policy the NIH pursues is based on studies done by people who no how to think and conduct empirical research. Thank God it is not left to idiots like you.
We know you care nothing for lgbt people, or people who seroconvert. We know you care little for people of color or who otherwise are not like you ideologically. We know you have, at best, a tenuous grip on reality. So do yourself a favor and go away. We just laugh at you here. Folks here are too bright (overwhelmingly) to take you seriously.
dwes09
Whoops! Meant “neonegro”, but the two are so similar, if not the same. The whole notion of white hetero men trying to pass themselves off as gay people of color is just too strange anyway.
OzJosh
So explain why at the same time as cutting socially responsible programs like this Trump has ordered the most massive increase in defence spending in decades? And this from a president who espoused a significantly more isolationist international policy.
Neonegro
And the same refrain ” go away, go away , go away you troll” in their high pitch effeminate voices.
lol…lol..lol…poor souls.
For the regular ones here is my take:
1. all government spending must come under scrutiny.
2.The US military must be the best and we are rich enough to pay for it….and it should also be scrutinized to eliminate waste.
3. The economic bottom of society is not productive and should be assisted with just basic survival help.
4. what happens outside the US is no responsibility of the US…bring the troops back…let muslims kill muslims until they decide to stop….as long as we protect the country and keep access to natural resources.
just a short list for now.
On the good news front Britain has started the exit process from The European Union and nationalism is on the rise.
If Trump could severely defund the UN that would be icing on the cake.
Bob LaBlah
@ol’ neon……………… “If Trump could severely defund the UN that would be icing on the cake.”
Go on, go on. Tell us your opinion on what he should do regarding foreign aid. I’m SURE you know what country in particular I am talking about.
Bob LaBlah
And by the way, your Bob blah blah blah crack was cute. I’m still laughing about it. I even started laughing out loud in the super market aisle while I was reading the latest b/s out of your lord and savior’s mouth that the National Enquirer printed. (I only read that shit to pass the time in the aisle but always put it back on the rack).
GayEGO
That would be nice if Trump cared about it, but sadly he only cares about winning, theatrical tweets, and making money.
DCguy
It was recently proven that the main aim of the Russian Trolls is the weakening of institutions of the west, such as the EU, the U.S. etc.. Thanks for proving yourself Russian Troll.
Oh and by the way, please respond directly to this comment. Since Donald Trump has had 6 bankruptcies, and is in debt hundreds of millions to foreign lenders, and Jared Kushner’s father went to jail for shady business practices, remind me exactly how THEY are going to do when they say they want to run the govt. like one of their businesses.
GayEGO
As expected, Trump is looking to win from his Trumpsters who mostly are bigots. I just wish our checks and balances would work faster so Trump and his ilk can be impeached!
Invader7
@NeoNegro: Come OUT as the WHITE man you really are. You’re the Rachel Dolezal on this site. Sad. Troubling. Desperate. Scary!!! Re: Trump increasing the DOD budget. Remember one of his post election LIES when he said the Pentagon could cut $125 BILLION in administrative/managerial overhead due to the fact that more than 3 million PLUS people run the Pentagon and all of its BLOATED departments .That there are more people running the Pentagon/DOD/military than there are actual troops: active duty /reserves. It’ll NEVER be reduced. There are too many SPECIAL interests who will do and say ANYTHING to protect their piece of that bloated pie. Too many communities are totally dependent on the employment the defense manufacturing contracts bring into their local economies. BTW: I’m having a mini Sylvester disco remix music fest – listening with my amazing German Sennheiser headphones as I write and post this. I’m going so gay the next FOUR years while Mr. Cheetoh is in office. Hopefully Congress will impeach and REMOVE President Rump and VP Six Pence. Read the story about Karen Pence CONTROLLING Pence. You KNOW he’s a deep closet case and she has trapped him and he’s her bitch. She’s a lunatic right wing nut bag. Like the saying goes: ” Women are controlling shrews and men ARE fun.” I can understand why men go gay . Some women have no use for you if you don’t want to put up with their b.s. and won’t screw them. They should get a really good vibrating dildo. Anyway, during Trump term in office do the exact opposite of what he wants. Email the White House, write your elected representative.. Don’t accept any of this FASCIST goon’s agenda. Run him and his coven out of office !!!
Invader7
When republithug Rep. Roy Blount -Missouri was asked if any of Rump’s budget would be approved,the answer was ” No,no, no.” That’s bad – when your fellow republithug slams your proposed budget on national television. Oy vey !!!