Latest news with #PatrickSullivan
Newsweek
5 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
US Sends Amphibious Warship to Pacific Front Line
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A United States amphibious warship capable of projecting military power from sea to shore has begun its transit to Japan—the U.S.'s ally in Northeast Asia—for forward deployment. The deployment of USS Tripoli—an America-class amphibious assault ship—demonstrates Washington's commitment to the defense of Japan, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said on Monday. It added, "The security environment in the Indo-Pacific requires the most capable ships." Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense and Foreign ministries for comment by email. Why It Matters According to the U.S. Navy, amphibious warships are "capable of sailing in harm's way" and enabling rapid combat power buildup ashore in the face of opposition. The Tripoli and other U.S. amphibious assault ships resemble small aircraft carriers, as they can carry fighter jets. China, which challenges the U.S.'s naval dominance in the western Pacific Ocean with the world's largest navy by hull count, has been rapidly building its own amphibious force for a potential island-landing campaign across the contested Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. Japan, which hosts 55,000 U.S. military personnel, is part of the first island chain—along with Taiwan and the Philippines—under the U.S.'s maritime containment strategy, which seeks to restrict China's access to the wider Pacific Ocean through U.S.-aligned territories. What To Know The Tripoli departed Naval Base San Diego in California on May 19 to forward-deploy to Sasebo in Japan, the U.S. Pacific Fleet announced, adding that the deployment was part of a "scheduled rotation" of forces in the region, as the Tripoli would replace its sister ship, USS America. Photos taken by ship spotters show that the Tripoli arrived in Seal Beach—located north of San Diego—the following day, where it stayed for over a week before departing on May 29. Captain Eddie Park, who has served as the Tripoli's commanding officer since mid-April, said the warship was ready to defend U.S. interests and strengthen the U.S.-Japan partnership. His deputy, Captain Patrick Sullivan, described the U.S.-Japan relationship as "vital." The United States Navy amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli transiting San Diego Bay in California on May 19. The United States Navy amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli transiting San Diego Bay in California on May 19. U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sara L. Eshleman The forward presence of the Tripoli in Japan enhances U.S. national security and strengthens its ability to protect strategic interests, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a news release. Meanwhile, officially released photos show the America—set to change its home port from Sasebo to San Diego—operating in the Philippine Sea as of Tuesday. The warship was seen conducting missile loading and flight operations with F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jets. What People Are Saying Captain Eddie Park, the commanding officer of USS Tripoli, said in a news release: "I am extremely proud to lead this hard-working and motivated team of Sailors and Marines overseas to support security, stability and prosperity in this vital region." Captain Patrick Sullivan, the executive officer of USS Tripoli, said: "I'm honored and excited to return as the XO of such a highly capable warship to honor our nation's security commitment to Japan." What Happens Next It is unclear whether the Tripoli and the America will have an opportunity to conduct joint operations in the western Pacific Ocean before reaching their respective new home ports.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘I love it here', Tourists flocking back to Halifax in record numbers
The Harbour Queen is seen in the Halifax Harbour. (CTV Atlantic/Jonathan MacInnis) The Harbour Queen pulls away from the dock, bringing another group of tourists on a cruise around the historic Halifax Harbour. 'Total visitation or stays in hotel rooms is up 2.6 per cent last year. That's on top of the growth that we've had for previous years,' says the president and CEO of Discover Halifax, Ross Jefferson. 'It's really encouraging. We've been on a long trend of upward movement for almost a decade now. Last year, representing the height and the apex so far.' That's an all-time high of 1.6 million night stays booked according to Jefferson. I love it here, everyone's so nice,' says Cape Cod resident Penny Vincent. Growth is being seen across the board from business travel and conventions to individual leisure travel and cruise ships. 'I never came along the Seaport and this is absolutely gorgeous. I went to Peggy's Cove years ago,' Pennsylvania resident Linda Rodak says. 'We have the most visited area in Nova Scotia on the Halifax waterfront,' adds Patrick Sullivan, the president and CEO of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. Province-wide spending also hit record levels, bringing in $3.5 billion dollars. 'We saw a significant increase in air travel last year rather than road travel so air travel folks are great, they come and rent a car and stay in hotels and eat meals and we should prepare for more visitors in Nova Scotia,' Sullivan says. As more people come to Halifax, Jefferson does have some concerns about the city's ability to keep up with the growth. 'We simply can't build enough hotel rooms fast enough, so having the supplier of hotel rooms will be a little bit of a limiting factor,' Jefferson says. That's something that will need to be addressed if Halifax hopes to continue to be a destination for people from across Canada and around the world. As good as the tourism numbers are right now, Jefferson is expecting huge things for next year with several large events planned. Announcements on what those events are should be coming out in the next few weeks. Halifax Harbour The Harbour Queen is seen in the Halifax Harbour. (CTV Atlantic/Jonathan MacInnis) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Business Wire
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Primaris REIT Reiterates Guidance; Gains Control and Commences Repurposing of Five HBC Locations; Four Leases Subject to Bids
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust ('Primaris', the 'REIT' or the 'Trust') (TSX: announced today that it has received notice from the court-appointed monitor overseeing Hudson's Bay Company ('HBC') proceedings under the Companies' Creditor Arrangement Act ('CCAA') that 5 of the 9 HBC leases within the Primaris portfolio did not received any bids and have been disclaimed. As a result, Primaris will assume full control of these sites effective June 16, 2025. The leases disclaimed by HBC include: The disclaimer of the above 5 locations will result in: 532,100 square feet of vacancy, reducing Q1 2025 pro forma in-place portfolio occupancy by 3.7 percentage points from 93.2% to 89.5%; $5.5 million of lower annualized revenue; and $3.9 million of lower annualized net operating income** ('NOI'). 'Regaining control of five of our valuable anchor locations allows Primaris to commence repurposing a significant amount of low productivity space, and marks the beginning of our value surfacing exercise,' commented Alex Avery, Chief Executive Officer. 'While HBC has been the focus of a lot of discussion and attention, the real story is just beginning, as the disclaiming of leases has finally removed obstructionist barriers enabling us to enhance our properties. We are confident that the quantitative and qualitative benefits of regaining control of these spaces will be materially positive for our properties and our unitholders.' Anticipated HBC Site Repurposing Primaris is now able to proceed with certainty. With significant planning and preparation work already complete, management is now focused on rapidly executing on its longstanding re-tenanting, redevelopment, and repurposing plans in relation to each of the five disclaimed locations. Discussions and negotiations are ongoing, and management expects to be able to announce definitive agreements, leases and plans for most of these locations over the remainder of 2025. Primaris' ultimate goal is to provide clarity for stakeholders and minimize disruption at the properties while delivering new rental income as soon as possible. 'There is strong tenant demand for our HBC boxes, and we are in discussions with strong covenant, high-quality national retailers, including large format tenants,' said Patrick Sullivan, President and Chief Operating Officer. 'There are opportunities where tenants are considering the entire box, others will be subdivided, and others are likely to be demolished to accommodate development of new outparcel and higher density opportunities.' For the 5 disclaimed leases, Primaris estimates it will cost approximately $50 million to $60 million to complete its repurposing and redevelopment plans, which are expected to result in a reduction of GLA from 532,100 square feet to approximately 475,000 square feet. Management anticipates associated annual NOI** of approximately $4 million to $5 million, with initial tenant occupancy expected in Q2 2026, and cash rent commencing as soon as early 2027. The expected overall NOI** yield on invested capital across these five properties is between 8% and 9%. The financial benefits of HBC's departure are not limited to the replacement rents of the remaining space. Across these five properties comprising 252 acres of land, Primaris will be relieved of the following obligations as a result of the disclaimed HBC leases: 1,866 parking space requirements (13 acres of land at approximately 144 spaces per acre); and 'No-build' restrictions across approximately 71 acres of land which precluded construction of any buildings on large portions of the shopping centre sites, including the 9 acres occupied by HBC stores. All of these properties now offer significant intensification opportunities spanning retail outparcels, the potential sale of excess lands for multi-residential, hotel, or other high density uses, and the future expansion of the malls themselves. In addition to the above noted financial benefits and removed restrictions, regained control of these leases offers further indirect financial and qualitative benefits to the shopping centres, such as the halo effect on sales and rents from adjacent tenants following re-tenanting, or the positive impact on capitalization rates and valuations for properties that replace underperforming tenancies with new, stronger retailers. Primaris' ongoing redevelopment of the former Sears store at Devonshire Mall in Windsor, Ontario illustrates the significant benefits that come with replacing low productivity tenants with new and high productivity tenants, along with revitalizing capital investment. Four HBC Leases Subject To CCAA Bids Primaris has 4 remaining HBC locations that are subject to bids from qualified bidders. While limited information is available about these bids, including any retailer plans or requested lease modifications, Primaris believes that it will have significant influence over the outcomes of the bids. This is due to the significant deferred maintenance in the stores, and the time and cost required to restore the spaces to satisfactory operating condition for a retailer. Primaris is not yet able to comment on the viability of the operating strategies or financial strength of the retailers bidding on these locations, but it will provide further details in the ordinary course once they are known. The REIT's remaining exposure to the 4 HBC leases currently subject to retailer bids is as follows: The above locations represent the following metrics within Primaris' portfolio: 4 HBC locations totaling 498,770 square feet of GLA, or approximately 3.5% of portfolio occupancy; 34th largest tenant by annualized minimum rent; Approximately $5.4 million of gross rental revenue, per annum; $10.84 weighted average gross rent per occupied square foot; Approximately $2.0 million net rental revenue per annum, or 0.6% of total annualized minimum rent; and $3.92 weighted average net rent per occupied square foot. New HBC Co-Tenancy Estimate The Primaris portfolio includes over 2,800 leases, of which there are only 27 with co-tenancy clauses that pertain to HBC. Co-tenancy clauses are provisions commonly found in commercial real estate leases that stipulate certain conditions under which a tenant's rent or other obligations may be reduced or modified. These clauses typically come into effect when specific anchor tenants, such as HBC, or a certain percentage of tenants within a shopping centre or retail complex cease operations or vacate their premises. In most cases, additional triggers must also be met, such as a prescribed rate of decline in tenant sales, or sales falling below a certain threshold. Of the 27 co-tenancy clauses tied to HBC, 13 are associated with the 5 disclaimed HBC leases and 14 relate to the 4 HBC locations currently subject to retailer bid. As a result of the trigger requirements contained in the co-tenancy clause, as well as certain mitigation strategies available to Primaris due to its scale and relationships with certain tenants, management estimates that the total impact on 2025 rental revenue from these co-tenancy provisions will be less than $2 million. Primaris is working to reduce this impact to zero. 2025 Financial Outlook Maintained Disciplined capital allocation is a key pillar to Primaris' strategy. Providing financial and operating guidance is not only helpful for investors and analysts, as they evaluate the performance and prospects of an investment in Primaris REIT, but it also creates a rigorous discipline for management, including detailed forecasting, as well as a comprehensive framework with which to evaluate outcomes. Primaris reaffirms its financial and operating guidance for the fiscal year 2025 set out in its management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (the 'MD&A'), which guidance has been reproduced below. Primaris is committed to clear, timely and transparent disclosure. The REIT first provided 2025 Financial Guidance on February 13, 2025 with the release of its 2024 financial results; Following the March 7th CCAA filing of HBC, Primaris provided a detailed update of its HBC exposure on March 10, 2025; On April 30, along with its Q1 2025 financial and operating results, Primaris confirmed its original 2025 Financial guidance first provided on February 13, 2025, maintaining all metrics other than occupancy guidance; and Today, Primaris reaffirms that financial and operating guidance. 2025 Guidance (unaudited) Previously Published Updated Additional Notes MD&A Section Reference Occupancy Decrease of 6.0% to 7.0% No change in guidance Assumes HBC disclaims all their leases, comprising 1,030.6 thousand square feet Section 8.1, "Occupancy" and Section 8.6 "Top 30 Tenants" Contractual rent steps in rental revenue $3.4 to $3.8 million No change in guidance Section 9.1, "Components of Net Income (Loss)" Straight-line rent adjustment in rental revenue $6.8 to $7.2 million No change in guidance Section 9.1, "Components of Net Income (Loss)" Same Properties Cash NOI** growth 3.0% to 4.0% No change in guidance Same Properties excludes Northland (under redevelopment) and the acquisitions of Les Galeries de la Capitale, Oshawa Centre and Southgate Centre Section 9.1, "Components of Net Income (Loss)" Cash NOI** $318 - $323 million No change in guidance Includes the impact of the January 31, 2025 acquisitions and approximately $300 million of dispositions throughout the year Section 9.1, "Components of Net Income (Loss)" General and administrative expenses $36 to $38 million No change in guidance Section 9.1, "Components of Net Income (Loss)" Operating capital expenditures Recoverable Capital $18 to $20 million Leasing Capital $20 to $24 million No change in guidance Section 8.7, "Operating Capital Expenditures" Redevelopment capital expenditures $48 to $50 million No change in guidance Primarily attributable to Devonshire Mall and Northland Section 7.4, "Redevelopment and Development" FFO** per unit 1 $1.70 to $1.75 per unit fully diluted No change in guidance Includes the impact of the January 31, 2025 acquisitions and approximately $300 million of dispositions throughout the year Section 9.2, "FFO** and AFFO**" ** Denotes a non-GAAP measure. See Section 1, "Basis of Presentation" – "Use of Non-GAAP Measures' and Section 12, "Non-GAAP Measures". 1 Units outstanding and weighted average diluted units outstanding assumes the exchange of exchangeable preferred units in subsidiary limited partnerships of the Trust that are exchangeable into Trust Units ("Exchangeable Preferred LP Units"). See Section 10.6, "Unit Equity and Distributions". Expand Management discloses financial outlook statements for the purpose of providing further information about the Trust's prospective results of operations. These statements are based on factors and assumptions, such as historical trends, current conditions, and expected developments. Management believes that such financial outlook statements have been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management's best estimates and judgements. However, because these financial outlook statements are subjective and subject to numerous risks, they should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results. In the press release dated September 24, 2024, Primaris released targets for the period ending December 31, 2027. These targets are not guidance, but are an outlook based on the execution of Primaris' strategic pillars. Primaris reaffirms its three year targets last published in its MD&A, which targets have been reproduced below. See Section 2, "Forward-Looking Statements and Financial Outlook" of the MD&A for a description of the material factors, assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could impact the financial outlook statements. About Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust Primaris is Canada's only enclosed shopping centre focused REIT, with ownership interests in leading enclosed shopping centres located in growing Canadian markets. The current portfolio totals 14.2 million square feet, valued at approximately $4.5 billion at Primaris' share. Economies of scale are achieved through its fully internal, vertically integrated, full-service national management platform. Primaris is very well-capitalized and is exceptionally well positioned to take advantage of market opportunities at an extraordinary moment in the evolution of the Canadian retail property landscape. Forward-Looking Statements and Financial Outlook Certain statements included in this news release constitute ''forward-looking information'' or 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The words 'will', 'expects', 'plans', "estimates", 'intends' and similar expressions are often intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Specific forward-looking statements made or implied in this news release include but are not limited to statements regarding: HBC's proceedings under the CCAA and the impact thereof on the REIT; expectations regarding HBC's leases and the REIT's plans in respect of the spaces, including the anticipated timing for executing such plans; the benefits of the five disclaimed HBC leases; management's expectations regarding future leasing activity and tenant demand; management's belief that it will have influence over the outcome of the four HBC leases currently subject to CCAA bids; the Trust's ability to mitigate the impact to revenue of co-tenancy clauses pertaining to HBC; and disclosures under the heading '2025 Financial Outlook Maintained'.. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. Primaris cautions that although it is believed that the assumptions are reasonable in the circumstances, actual results, performance or achievements of Primaris may differ materially from the expectations set out in the forward-looking statements. Material risk factors and assumptions include those set out in the Trust's MD&A and its management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (the 'Annual MD&A'), which are available on SEDAR+, and in Primaris' other materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time. Certain forward-looking information included in this news release may also be considered 'financial outlook' for purposes of applicable securities law, including statements under the heading "2025 Financial Outlook Maintained". Financial outlook about the Trust's prospective results of operations including, without limitation, anticipated FFO** per unit, anticipated Cash NOI** and Same Properties Cash NOI** growth, impact on rental revenue of contractual rent-steps, anticipated general and administrative expenses, anticipated operating capital expenditures, anticipated redevelopment capital expenditures, anticipated straight-line rent adjustment to revenue, anticipated growth in occupancy, and the Trust's December 2027 targets for a number of key metrics including in-place occupancy, annual Same Properties Cash NOI** growth, acquisition and disposition activity, annual FFO** per unit growth and annual distribution growth, is subject to the same assumptions, risk factors, limitations and qualifications as set forth in the Annual MD&A, as updated by the MD&A, and the Trust's annual information form. The Trust and management believe that such financial outlook has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management's best estimates and judgments. However, this information is subjective and subject to numerous risks. Financial outlook contained in this news release was provided for the purpose of providing further information about the Trust's prospective financial performance and readers are cautioned that it should not be used for other purposes. Readers are also urged to examine the Trust's materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities from time to time as they may contain discussions on risks and uncertainties which could cause the actual results and performance of Primaris to differ materially from the forward-looking statements and financial outlook contained in this news release. All forward-looking statements and financial outlook in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements and financial outlook are made as of May 26, 2025, and Primaris, except as required by applicable securities laws, assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances. Non-GAAP Measures Primaris' unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes for three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (together the 'Financial Statements') were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS'), however, in this news release, a number of measures are presented which do not have a standardized meaning prescribed under generally accepted accounting principles ('GAAP') in accordance with IFRS. These non-GAAP measures include non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios, each as defined in National Instrument 52-112 - Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure ('NI 52-112'). Non-GAAP measures in this news release are denoted by the suffix '**'. Management believes these non-GAAP measures are useful measures to assessing Primaris' performance period over period and its ability to meet its financial obligations. However, none of the non-GAAP measures should be construed as an alternative to financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Furthermore, these non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other real estate entities and should not be construed as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with IFRS. Additional information regarding these non-GAAP measures, including definitions and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP figure, where applicable, can be found in the MD&A, which is available on the Primaris website at and on the SEDAR+ website at See Section 12, "Non-GAAP Measures" of the MD&A for the descriptions of each non-GAAP measure used in this news release, Section 9.1, "Components of Net Income (Loss)" of the MD&A for the quantitative reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP figures for Cash NOI**, Same Properties Cash NOI** and Section 9.2, "FFO** and AFFO**" of the MD&A for the quantitative reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP figure for FFO**. These sections are incorporated by reference herein. Use of Operating Metrics Primaris uses certain operating metrics to monitor and measure the operational performance of its portfolio. Operating metrics in this news release include weighted average net rent per occupied square foot and weighted average gross rent per occupied square foot. These operating metrics, which may constitute supplementary financial measures as defined in NI 52-112, are not derived from directly comparable measures contained in the Financial Statements but may be used by management and disclosed on a periodic basis to depict the historical or future expected operating performance of the Trust's portfolio. For an explanation of the composition of weighted average net rent per occupied square foot, see Section 8.2, "Weighted Average Net Rent" of the MD&A. Weighted average gross rent per occupied square foot is defined as total annual gross rent divided by occupied GLA. Non-financial operating metrics in this news release include GLA and in-place occupancy. For a description of in-place occupancy, see Section 8.1, "Occupancy" of the MD&A.
Axios
08-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Construction begins to turn Uptown office tower into luxury apartments
Construction has started to transform the old Duke Energy headquarters on South Church Street into 460 luxury apartments with ground-floor retail. Why it matters: The $250 million Brooklyn & Church project is Uptown's first office-to-mixed-use conversion. It comes as about 25% of Uptown's 21 million square feet of office space is vacant, according to commercial real estate firm CBRE's Q1 2025 report. The latest: Charlotte-based Asana Partners and Washington, D.C.-based MRP Realty, in collaboration with Rockefeller Group, celebrated construction commencing at the '70s-era building on Thursday. "This city block has really been left pretty stagnant since the 1970s," Reed Kracke, partner at Asana Partners, said at the groundbreaking. "We're really excited as a team for the opportunity to reinvent it." The 30-month construction project is now expected to be completed in Q4 2027. Zoom in: The 13-story tower's core and shell will be preserved, while the façade will get a makeover with new windows and balconies. Site plans also call for 57,000 square feet of retail, including a new three-story, 30,000-square-foot building at the corner of Church Street and Brooklyn Village Avenue. The big picture: Brooklyn & Church is anticipated to energize this prominent corner near Bank of America Stadium, with new retail and a more walkable layout planned. "This is a corner of Uptown that really hasn't been activated in a long time," says Patrick Sullivan, senior vice president of acquisitions and asset management at MRP Realty. "There's just so much opportunity to capture people that come to the stadium and also create more of a 24/7-type environment." Asana managing director Welch Liles says the leasing process is still very early, but interest is strong. Asana will aim to have the majority of tenants open by early 2028, soon after construction wraps. "We really started marketing to retailers in January," Welch says. "We are hoping to get a good mix of and beverage-type users, along with some local, regional users. And I think it's gonna be a great curated mix."
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
CDC allegedly cancels Emory's HIV self-testing program after not enough workers left to oversee it
A local HIV program has allegedly been canceled as a result of funding cuts, firings and layoffs that have recently hit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a program lead. On April 22, the federal health agency informed Emory University in Atlanta that its large HIV self-testing program, called Together TakeMeHome, was being canceled two years early. Dr. Patrick Sullivan, the project's lead scientist and professor of epidemiology at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, said he was told the cancellation is because the CDC does not have enough staffers to oversee the program. MORE: Multiple health agency websites on HIV, contraception taken down to comply with executive orders "CDC notified us that they had let go of so many CDC staff earlier in this year that they could no longer provide the required federal oversight for the project," he told ABC News. "It's really a tough rationale to accept. It really feels negligent to have sent home the staff that were needed to manage a really successful program that was improving the health of Americans, that was extending life, that was saving money and to not keep the resources in place to manage that." Funded by the CDC, Together TakeMeHome, launched in March 2023 with an aim to make HIV at-home test kits available to Americans. The CDC currently recommends that Americans between ages 13 and 64 be tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime. Sullivan said there are many reasons that make testing difficult including people living in more rural areas where testing is limited, costs or people preferring to test at home. Since the program started, Sullivan said the team has mailed out around 750,000 HIV tests to households across the U.S. The test sent to households is the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test, which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration and provides results within 20 minutes. Sullivan said about a quarter of the people who ordered a test through Together TakeMeHome had never been tested for HIV. "In the time that we've operated, nearly 7,000 Americans have used the kits to learn that they are living with HIV, and that allows them to get into treatment, to protect their own health and to reduce the risk that they would transmit HIV to others," Sullivan said. The team estimates that diagnosing those 7,000 people with HIV has prevented about 500 new HIV infections. "Nearly $200 million in treatment costs have been saved just because of those infections that were avoided as people living with HIV learn their status and change their behaviors and get treated for their own infections," Sullivan said. "We had a program put in place, developed collaboratively with CDC, that was really making a difference, really moving the needle on ending the HIV epidemic, really improving people's health, really getting people the opportunity to connect with medical services that will literally save their lives." MORE: 'We're all ticking time bombs': Budget cuts gut 9/11 health protections as community braces for crisis President Donald Trump launched a program in 2019 with a goal to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. by 2030. However, several federal grants related to HIV and AIDS research have been terminated at the National Institutes of Health since the start of Trump's second term. The administration is also reportedly considering a plan to eliminate the CDC's Division of HIV Prevention, sources told ABC News. The White House did not return ABC News' request for comment about the alleged plans. Sullivan worries that the loss of Emory's program, along with the cancellation of other HIV research, could reverse the progress the U.S. has made in fighting the HIV epidemic. "Part of public health's goal is to reach communities where there's the greatest need for services that aren't being met. When you can do all those things and see a return on investment -- see a net savings of money while we're improving the health of people -- that's exactly the kind of program that you really want to keep going," he said. The CDC did not immediately reply to ABC News' request for comment. CDC allegedly cancels Emory's HIV self-testing program after not enough workers left to oversee it originally appeared on
