PRESS RELEASE | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC– The COVID-19 outbreak, one of many deadly disease outbreaks that have occurred and will occur again, clearly shows the importance of funding institutions like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, Health and Human Services, United States Agency for International Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency.These institutions are vital to protecting the health, security, and economic interests of all Americans. Cutting their funding as President Trump has proposed in his FY 2021 budget will weaken the nation’s ability respond to lethal outbreaks and is a clear and present danger to the security of all Americans.
President Trump’s current FY 2021 budget proposes the following destructive cuts to US agencies involved in global health:
• 10.81% cut to the FY 2020 enacted CDC funding levels
• 9.55% cut to the FY 2020 enacted NIH funding levels
• 7.71% cut the FY 2020 enacted NIH Fogarty International Center funding levels
• 9% cut to the FY 2020 enacted HHS funding levels
• 26% cut to the FY 2020 enacted EPA funding levels
Also, US government scientists must have the freedom to communicate freely and directly with the public. Introducing a political sieve between the scientists and the public as the US Administration is doing by forcing all US government scientists to go through the White House undermines the public’s right to know the truth about the health threats they face. Muzzling US government scientists endangers the health of all Americans.
All Congresspersons, regardless of party affiliation, must oppose the muzzling of scientists and the dangerous budget cuts proposed by the US Administration. Instead, they must support continued funding for US government agencies that work tirelessly to protect US health, security, and the environmental well-being of this nation.
For more information, contact Dr. Keith Martin, Executive Director, Consortium of Universities for Global Health at executivedirector@cugh.org or (202)974-6363.