Trust for America’s Health Statement on the President’s FY2021 Budget Request
Today, the Administration released the President’s FY2021 budget request for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other federal agencies, including a proposed 10 percent cut to HHS and a 9 percent cut to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In response, the President and CEO of Trust for America’s Health, John Auerbach, released the following statement:
“Public health is battling threats on multiple fronts, from coronavirus, to natural disasters, to opioids to chronic diseases like diabetes. Every year, public health is asked to do more with less, often fighting a growing number of 21st century problems with an insufficient set of 20th century tools.
We are concerned that this budget request, if adopted by Congress, would cut public health funding amid multiple outbreaks and epidemics that threaten the health and safety of the American people.
Such budget cuts would add to the impact of years of stagnant or decreased funding. CDC’s budget is already 10% lower than it was 10 years ago, when inflation is factored in. And since most of CDC’s funding is distributed to states and local communities, this loss is directly felt throughout the nation. The consequences are troubling. For example, only 16 states are funded to fight the obesity epidemic, yet nearly 40% of American adults have obesity. This costs our healthcare system an excess $149 billion per year. In addition, CDC’s emergency preparedness line item has been cut by a third in the last several years. The proposed budget would sustain or cut these programs even further.
We urge Congress and the Administration to work to ensure public health has the tools and resources it needs to prevent disease and safeguard the health of all communities.”
