The President’s Budget Cuts Millions In Funding For Public Health Programs
As the Trump Administration earns “bipartisan backlash” for its response to the emerging coronavirus, Washington Republicans owe answers to the American people about whether they support President Trump’s latest funding cuts to the Centers For Disease Control’s Public Health Preparedness program.
And this isn’t new… President Trump has repeatedly slashed funding for disease response during his time in office. In 2018, the CDC was forced to eliminate 80 percent of its efforts to prevent global disease outbreaks because it ran out of money for the program. And in May 2018, Trump’s administration forced out the top White House official for responding to deadly pandemics, and eliminated the National Security Council’s entire global health security unit.
“Washington Republicans have a responsibility to protect their constituents and stand up to President Trump’s proposed cuts to programs that keep us safe from pandemics like the coronavirus,” said DCCC Spokesperson Robyn Patterson. “The Trump Administration has already gutted crucial programs to fight pandemics abroad. The American people deserve to know if Washington Republicans will stand you for everyday Americans and oppose Trump’s proposed cuts to these lifesaving programs.”
The coronavirus has killed 2,700 people worldwide and spread to at least 30 countries. There are at least 36 confirmed cases in the US.
The Trump Administration’s response to the coronavirus has earned bipartisan condemnation. On Tuesday, Republican Senator John Kennedy accused a top administration official of not giving “straight answers on the coronavirus”. Republican Senator Ron Johnson said the outbreak exposed “vulnerabilities” in our response to diseases.