A newly leaked draft of the federal budget, reported by The Washington Post, reveals a proposal from the Trump administration that could drastically reduce funding for a wide range of public health programs—including cutting all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) support for Lyme disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, and the LymeX diagnostics initiative.
The budget document outlines a sweeping plan to reduce the CDC’s overall funding by nearly half—dropping from $9.2 billion to $5.2 billion. In addition to zeroing out funds for tick-borne disease efforts, the proposal also targets programs focused on chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Although the proposal has not yet been submitted to Congress and is not final, the potential implications are alarming for the millions affected by Lyme disease and related conditions. The Center for Lyme Action is actively preparing resources to help the Lyme community respond and advocate for continued funding. Here's what to do next: Urge Congress to Protect and Grow Federal Funding for Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Programs.
📖 Read the full article from The Washington Post
📄 View the 64-page document on Inside Medicine’s Substack