Protecting America's Global Health Leadership: FY26 Budget Cuts

On Friday, May 30, the administration released the Technical Supplement to the President's FY26 Budget Request ("Appendix"), following the May 2 release of the President's "skinny" budget.

The NCGHA is deeply concerned by the significant cuts to global health programs proposed in this request. These reductions would not only diminish America’s leadership in global health but also undermine the safety, prosperity, and wellbeing of communities in North Carolina and around the world.

The President's FY26 proposal reflects a troubling shift in priorities away from the global health investments that have long protected Americans, driven innovation, and saved millions of lives.

We share this information to highlight the scale and potential impact of the proposed cuts and to remind you that Congress holds the power of the purse to appropriate funds that reflect the values and priorities of the American people.

The NCGHA remains committed to doing all we can to advance North Carolina as a center of global health.

President's Budget Request:

Global Health Summary

You can read the full budget here.

Why It Matters: Impact on

North Carolina & Global Health

Lives Lost: Early reports already point to lives lost around the world due to recent cuts to USAID. These accounts are deeply distressing and underscore the urgent need to approach funding decisions with care, compassion, and foresight.

Global Health Drives Local Innovation: North Carolina’s universities and global health institutions are major recipients of USAID, NIH and CDC global health funding. These cuts jeopardize jobs, breakthroughs in scientific research, and our role as a global leader in innovation.

Economic Fallout: Global health funding fuels North Carolina’s economy. In 2024, our state received nearly $1 billion from USAID and terminations of USAID awards have already resulted in the loss of approximately $3 billion in unpaid funds owed to local institutions in months and years to come. At the same time, NIH awarded $2 billion to North Carolina institutions, supporting 22,000 jobs and generating $4.85 billion in economic activity. Over 500 North Carolinians have already lost their jobs due to USAID cuts, and this budget proposal puts thousands more at risk.

Public Health Security Starts Abroad: Slashing global health funding undermines U.S. efforts to detect and contain disease outbreaks overseas, which puts Americans at greater risk at home.

Strategic Leadership at Risk: For decades, U.S. investment in global health has been a cornerstone of our soft power, advancing diplomacy, stability, and global goodwill through programs like PEPFAR and Gavi. These proposed cuts not only endanger lives, but also signal a retreat from the global stage, ceding influence to competitors eager to fill the void.

What You Can Do

As members of North Carolina’s global health community, your voice and expertise are powerful. Here’s how you can stay engaged and help elevate the importance of global health investment:

Stay Informed: Review the  FY26 Budget Request and Congressional Budget Justification for the State Department to understand what’s at stake. 

Educate Others: Share this information with colleagues, students, and partners. Make sure your networks understand how these cuts could impact North Carolina and global communities.

Speak Up. Use your voice on social media, in op-eds, and in public forums to emphasize the importance of sustained global health investments. Personal stories and local data are powerful tools.

Engage Decision Makers: Call your congressional delegation and let them know what you think about this budget. Attend your local town hall meeting and tell your community about what is going on. Submit comments and participate in public dialogues that inform policymakers at every level of the consequences these cuts will have.

Stay Connected: There is power and positivity in community. Stay connected to your global health community and with the Alliance, and we’ll be sure to continue sharing updates and opportunities to come together.

Together, we can amplify our message and elevate the importance of global health to North Carolina’s future.