May 2, 2025
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) expresses grave concern regarding President Trump’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 discretionary budget released today. It has the potential to undermine decades of progress in global and domestic health through the severe reduction and, in some cases, elimination of critical funding for institutions that protect lives and advance public health.
If enacted, this proposal will reduce the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget by approximately 40% and eliminate the Fogarty International Center at NIH. It will cut the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) budget by about 39%, dismantle the CDC’s Center for Global Health, and reduce investment in public health preparedness and response capabilities. Furthermore, it will devastate global health programs historically managed through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State. These cuts represent a dangerous step backward for the health security of Americans and populations worldwide.
The Fogarty International Center is a cornerstone of global scientific collaboration, training generations of researchers in the U.S. and abroad to detect, prevent and respond to emerging infectious diseases. Eliminating this center not only weakens our pandemic preparedness but also severs vital partnerships that directly benefit U.S. health.
Similarly, the proposed closing of CDC’s Center for Global Health will impair our nation’s ability to monitor and respond to disease threats before they reach our shores. It will also hinder the ability to collect and share data for disease prevention and mitigation programs in the U.S. and globally, which also inform CDC’s 24/7 support for Americans experiencing unknown illness, including traveler cases of disease not endemic to the United States.
Under the State Department/USAID, we are heartened to see continued support for the U.S. President’s Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)—a model of bipartisan success in the fight against HIV/AIDS—but this support must be accompanied by robust investment in the broader infrastructure of U.S. global health programs. Malaria, neglected tropical diseases and other preventable causes of death require consistent, strategic engagement and sustained funding to ensure we do not lose the hard-fought gains of past decades.
The ASTMH urges Congress to reject these short-sighted and dangerous cuts. Now is not the time to dismantle the institutions and programs that save lives, protect American and global health, and advance global stability. The U.S. should not cede its competitive edge in science and health innovation. As the world continues to face complex health threats—from resurgent diseases to emerging ones—sustained U.S. leadership in global health is more important than ever.
U.S. investment in global health research is also a smart investment for the United States. Between 2007 and 2015, U.S. investment in global health research and development has spurred $33 billion in economic growth. These investments also save the U.S. money. For example, a $26 million investment in polio vaccine development in the 1950s has saved $180 billion in treatment costs in the United States alone.
We call on policymakers to sustain support for NIH, CDC and State Department/USAID-led health initiatives, and to recognize that investments in global health are investments in national security, economic prosperity and humanitarian leadership. Slashing these vital programs directly compromises the health, safety and prosperity of Americans.