Global Health Defense: America's First Line of Protection

Strengthening global health systems is not just an international responsibility, it is a direct safeguard for American communities. In an era of unprecedented global mobility, an outbreak anywhere can quickly become a crisis everywhere. USAID’s global health programs serve as the first line of defense, reinforcing surveillance, preparedness, and response capabilities in vulnerable regions before threats escalate into global emergencies.”

Global health security is a cornerstone of national security. Protecting Americans from highly dangerous pathogens requires sustained global engagement to maintain stability and prevent the spread of infectious diseases before they reach U.S. borders. The U.S. government's investment in global health security is driven by the imperative to detect, prevent, and control high-risk pathogens and chronic infectious diseases that pose a direct threat to American health and safety.

Emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola, Marburg virus, influenza, Cholera, Mpox, and Lassa fever have demonstrated their capacity for rapid transmission, high mortality, and significant economic and social disruption. At the same time, chronic diseases like tuberculosis (now resurging in parts of the U.S., including Kansas) and HIV continue to present long-term public health challenges, demanding sustained investment in prevention, treatment, and surveillance.

Cutting funding to these critical initiatives increases the risk of deadly pathogens reaching the United States, straining healthcare infrastructure, endangering American lives, and compromising national security. A robust, well-funded global health security strategy is not only a humanitarian necessity but also a strategic investment in protecting the United States from both emerging and persistent health threats.

-Senior Technical Advisor, Global Health Organization

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