U.S. Funding Cuts Drives Mass Layoffs of Healthcare Workers and TB Care Services Leading To Heightening Risk of Transmission and Development of Drug Resistance
5 March 2025
5 March 2025 – The abrupt and seismic halt of critical USAID funding and initial Stop Work orders for global TB prevention and care have already led to mass layoffs of tens of thousands of community healthcare workers and technical staffs in many high to moderate burden countries, severely disrupting essential services – including those for TB screening, testing, treatment adherence support, procurement, counselling and prevention – threatening to reverse years of progress and endangering countless lives, according to a survey undertaken by the TB Community Coordination Hub. Of the 180 survey respondents – representing 31 countries and including leaders, technical staff, TB champions, and community healthcare workers from local, national, and regional civil society organizations and community networks – over 50% indicated that their ability to deliver TB services has been “severely” impacted by the U.S. Stop Work orders with nearly 25% having to close down their offices and projects entirely.
The TB Community Coordination Hub strongly condemns this callous, abrupt and totally one-sided act that is unprecedented, and calls upon the US Administration to take immediate measures to restore funding and support projects globally that are crucial to contain and prevent a resurgence of this deadly disease. The Hub also calls on all countries, global TB leadership and donor organisations to take urgent measures to gear up alternate funding to enable uninterrupted TB treatment and care to those in need, while upholding commitments to End TB as a global health security priority and a crucial indicator of Sustainable Development Goal # 3.
Access the full press release here.
Access the TB Specific Impact Survey Initial Summary Report here.
The TB Community Coordination Hub brings together global voices of civil society, professionals, and the people and communities affected by TB to unite to sustain the fight to End TB. Learn more about the TB Community Coordination Hub’s work and how to support their efforts here.
SEE ALSO:
- Health Policy Watch: Huge Risk of Drug-Resistant TB in Wake of Abrupt U.S. Funding Cuts
