### Trump Administration's Budget Proposal Threatens Global Health Initiatives

The Trump administration's proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year aims to eliminate crucial funding for global health programs, including significant cuts to vaccine initiatives and disease prevention efforts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) global health unit is facing complete shutdown, along with its $230 million immunization program for polio and other preventable diseases.

The budget proposal further plans to withdraw funding from Gavi, the international vaccine alliance that supplies vaccines to children in developing nations. This move aligns with President Trump's "America First" policy, which intends to slash support for global health programs combating diseases like HIV and malaria, especially in poorer countries.

Public health experts have criticized these cuts, emphasizing that infectious diseases do not respect national borders. Current measles outbreaks in the United States, linked to international travel, highlight the interconnectedness of global health. Dr. Walter Orenstein of the Emory Vaccine Center pointed out that recent measles cases within the U.S. stem from virus importations.

Specifically, the proposed budget jeopardizes the future of the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network and the National Public Health Support Network in India, crucial for monitoring immunizations. The polio eradication effort, which appeared near success recently, now faces a financial deficit that could lead to disease resurgence, according to Dr. Hanan Balkhy from WHO.

Cuts also extend to malaria prevention. The proposed budget reduces the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative funding by 47% and adjusts the U.S. contribution model to the Global Fund, potentially deterring other international donors.

PEPFAR, a program credited with saving over 20 million lives since 2003 by providing HIV treatment, sees only partial preservation of its funding under the new budget, with substantial cuts aimed at prevention efforts. This has sparked major concerns among former officials.

The proposed budget also eliminates funding for family planning, reproductive health, and programs targeting neglected tropical diseases. Critics argue that this approach not only undermines global health security but also risks the resurgence of diseases that had been nearly eradicated.