1. United States
2. Wisc.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to strongly oppose any budget cuts to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and to advocate for stronger—not weaker—food safety regulations. These proposed rollbacks are not only shortsighted and dangerous, they disproportionately harm children, low-income families, and minority communities who are already more vulnerable to health inequities. Reducing funding for the FDA means fewer inspections, slower responses to contamination outbreaks, and weakened enforcement of life-saving regulations. Specifically, the decision to cut back on milk testing and delay or block the expansion of salmonella testing in poultry—particularly chicken and turkey—poses an immediate threat to public health. These are everyday staples in many households. Without proper oversight, contaminated products could easily reach grocery store shelves, leading to more hospitalizations and avoidable deaths. Foodborne illnesses already affect 1 in 6 Americans each year. Children, due to their still-developing immune systems, are at heightened risk. And for low-income and minority communities, who often live in food deserts and rely on affordable, widely available staples like milk and poultry, these rollbacks increase exposure to dangerous pathogens with fewer options for recourse. How can we claim to “Make America Healthy Again” while knowingly scaling back protections that keep tainted milk and salmonella-infected meat out of our homes? Public health cannot be compromised for political convenience or cost-cutting agendas. If we are truly committed to the well-being of all Americans, we must increase—not decrease—investment in food safety, testing, and regulatory enforcement. I respectfully urge you to oppose these cuts and stand up for stronger food safety standards that protect all families, especially the most at risk. Thank you for your leadership and attention to this urgent issue.