Federal Court Restores $6.2M Funding to Nine LGBTQ+, HIV Nonprofits

The federal government has restored over $6.2 million in grant funding to nine LGBTQ+ and HIV service organizations following a court ruling that blocked several of President Trump's executive orders aimed at defunding these groups. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction in June, finding the executive orders unconstitutional for violating constitutional protections and threatening critical federal support. These orders would have cut funding for organizations involved in equity-related work and those serving transgender individuals, severely impacting their ability to provide essential health and advocacy services. The restoration enables key nonprofits, including the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Los Angeles LGBT Center, and New York's LGBT Community Center, to continue their operations without fear of funding loss while the legal battle continues. Lambda Legal, which represented the plaintiffs, emphasized that although the victory is temporary, it is a crucial win for the community amid ongoing challenges to LGBTQ+ rights and services. Meanwhile, separate from this lawsuit, San Diego County lost $1.6 million in federal Ryan White Program funds for HIV services due to unspent allocations, highlighting ongoing challenges in federal HIV funding utilization.