U.S. Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal are calling on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to restore critical funding for global health initiatives. In a letter signed by 19 other senators, they emphasize that the U.S. withdrawal from key health and humanitarian programs under the Trump administration has weakened disease surveillance and public health preparedness—posing a direct risk to Americans.

The senators highlight that global health threats such as Ebola, Marburg Virus, and Bird Flu can reach U.S. soil in as little as 36 hours, according to the CDC. The funding freeze has also stalled clinical trials and halted malaria interventions, potentially endangering lives worldwide.

Murphy and Blumenthal stress that failing to restore these programs leaves a gap that adversaries like China and Russia are already filling. The letter urges Secretary Rubio to immediately reverse damaging cuts at USAID and reinstate global health investments, which they argue are crucial for both humanitarian aid and national security.

With Connecticut’s strong ties to healthcare and biotech industries, the senators’ advocacy underscores the broader impact of these cuts, not just globally but also on public health efforts within the state. 

The full text of the letter is available HERE: