1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

I am writing to urgently request that you prioritize and increase federal funding for global health security, specifically targeting Ebola surveillance, containment, and medical research. The current Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda is already the third-largest in history. This rare strain has no approved vaccine or treatment, making robust containment strategies our only line of defense. Unfortunately, recent deep cuts to USAID, the hollowing out of CDC staff, and the dismantling of specialized rapid response teams have severely weakened our ability to catch and control this deadly threat at its source. If Ebola somehow reaches the United States, the impact on our communities and healthcare system would be catastrophic. Should that happen, it will be a direct consequence of these shortsighted funding cuts, which have left us dangerously unprepared. As we learned from the devastating 2014 epidemic, delaying a response only guarantees a more severe and costly crisis later. The recent breakdowns in early detection are a clear warning sign that our defenses are compromised. We must immediately restore and expand funding to mobilize experts, accelerate the development of new therapeutics, and provide essential resources to frontline workers. Diseases do not respect borders, and safeguarding international health infrastructure is a matter of vital national security. Thank you for your leadership and commitment to protecting public health. I look forward to your response on this critical matter