USAID funding freeze disrupts global tuberculosis control efforts

The Trump administration's sudden freeze on USAID funding and subsequent agency dismantling has severely disrupted global tuberculosis control efforts, affecting diagnosis, treatment, and research programs worldwide. As USAID accounts for approximately one-third of international TB funding ($406 million in 2024), the freeze has forced the closure of critical TB services in high-burden countries, leaving patients without access to essential medications and diagnostics. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against the administration while experts warn about potential increases in drug-resistant TB cases and heightened risks to global public health.