The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Presidential Budget Request released today, while limited in scope, clearly signals this administration’s priorities and reflects a troubling willingness to retreat from America’s global leadership and moral responsibility.

By proposing cuts to global health and humanitarian programs, the administration risks reversing decades of bipartisan progress, threatens the health and well-being of millions around the world, and weakens one of the most effective tools of U.S. diplomacy and national security. These investments are not acts of charity, they are essential strategies that protect American citizens, build global stability, and foster economic growth.

Global health programs save lives, build resilient health systems, and create conditions for healthier, more prosperous communities. They strengthen trust in U.S. leadership, open new markets for American businesses, and prevent the spread of deadly diseases before they reach our shores. Abandoning these investments not only undermines our credibility as a compassionate and reliable partner, it is a strategic failure in an increasingly interconnected and volatile world.

Fortunately, Congress, not the President, holds the power of the purse. Year after year, Congress has demonstrated strong bipartisan support for global health, recognizing these programs as smart, high-impact investments in U.S. and global security, prosperity, and leadership.

Global Health Council urges Congress to reject this shortsighted budget proposal and to once again affirm the United States’ role as a trusted, ethical, and effective leader on the global stage. The stakes—for lives, for global stability, and for America’s future—could not be higher.