Health coalition members urge Congress to fund CDC’s critical work in local communities
April 2025
219 members of the CDC Coalition, including Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC), are asking Congress to include $11.581 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s programs in the FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
In addition to advocating for a stronger public health system at all levels of government, members of the CDC Coalition strongly oppose any efforts to cut funding or dismantle critical CDC centers or programs or attach damaging policy riders to the bill, all of which would threaten the health and wellbeing of communities in every state.
Nearly 80% of CDC’s domestic budget supports public health and prevention activities through state, tribal, local and territorial health organizations and agencies, national public health partners and academic institutions. However, due to years of underfunding, many of CDC’s most effective prevention programs are not reaching all states and communities, hampering efforts to achieve the greatest possible health outcomes across the nation.
In addition to ensuring a strong public health infrastructure and protecting our communities from public health threats and emergencies, CDC programs are crucial to reducing health care costs.
The agency plays a leading role in detecting and mitigating disease outbreaks in the U.S. and globally. States, communities and international partners rely on CDC for accurate information, direction and resources to ensure they can prepare, respond and recover from a crisis or disease outbreak.
CDC is also faced with other unprecedented challenges and responsibilities, including chronic disease prevention. Chronic and mental health conditions account for 90% of the country’s $4.5 trillion in annual health care costs, and many of these are preventable with appropriate support. CDC’s experts and programs work in a closely coordinated manner to protect all of our communities from these multifaceted threats.
CDC addresses the leading causes of death and disability by supporting this critical work across the country and in every state. No other federal agency or private entity can substitute for the expertise, technical assistance, data and research that CDC provides to jurisdiction and partners.
In addition to ensuring a strong public health infrastructure and protecting our communities from public health threats and emergencies, CDC programs are crucial to reducing health care costs. Despite the progress CDC has made to meet these needs, the agency’s programs remain underfunded.
Members of the CDC Coalition are asking Congressional leaders to adequately fund CDC’s programs in FY26 and to reject any efforts to dismantle the agency or eliminate any of its essential public health programs.
