Statement on the Administration's Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Request

“For the fourth year in a row, the Administration's Fiscal Year 2021 budget request includes extensive cuts to global health programs—totaling more than $3 billion—at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the State Department, and at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

These cuts would hamper U.S. efforts to combat diseases such as HIV/AIDS, polio, and measles. They also impact the ability of our partners like the Global Fund and the World Health Organization (WHO) to work alongside us, putting additional lives at risk and reducing America's own security and standing in the world.

However, the request is not all bad. One positive inclusion that we applaud is the strong signal of support for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and for USAID and CDC’s global health security programs. These investments are necessary to help some of the poorest countries afford life-saving vaccines, and at the same time help these countries become better prepared to stop deadly or debilitating infectious diseases before they spread to our borders.

The best way to keep our nation safe and promote America’s interests around the world is not by scaling back the very investments that ensure our safety and security. We urge Members of Congress to continue the decades of bipartisan support for these critical investments, and fully fund global health and development programs."