Judge blocks Trump administration defunding of SF AIDS Foundation, other nonprofits, for now
Ani Rivera snapped a selfie with the plaintiffs and lawyers outside the Oakland Federal Courthouse following a May 22 court hearing. From left, Kati Duffy; Jose Abrigo; Jennifer Pizer; Pelacanos, who uses one name; Roberto Ordeñana; Lance Toma; Camilla B. Taylor; Tyler TerMeer, Ph.D.; Omar Gonzalez-Pagan; and Kevin Jennings.
Photo: Rick Gerharter
Lance Toma, CEO of the San Francisco Community Health Center and a Class of 2015 San Francisco Fellow with LeaderSpring, played a central role in challenging efforts to strip federal funding from HIV and LGBTQ+ nonprofits under Trump-era executive orders.
In the lawsuit San Francisco AIDS Foundation v. Trump, filed February 20, 2025 by nine organizations, including SFCHC and the SF AIDS Foundation, they contested three executive orders aimed at defunding programs supporting diversity, equity, and gender identity. One order had already triggered a $2 million grant termination notice to SFCHC from the CDC over its HIV prevention work targeting trans youth of color. Toma recalled the experience as entering “crisis mode just to make sure we do what we can to protect our staff and our clients”.
On June 9, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the contested executive orders, ruling that they likely violated constitutional protections and unconstitutionally targeted marginalized groups. The injunction ensures continued federal funding for SFCHC and other plaintiffs while the case continues.
Learn more about San Francisco Community Health Center: https://www.sfcommunityhealth.org/
