As quoted in an interview:

Chomsky described the Trump administration’s approach to the problem as “surreal.”

“So in February, the pandemic is already raging. Everyone outside the United States recognizes it … Right in the middle of February, Trump comes out with his new budget for the next year. It’s worth taking a close look at it. Further cuts for the Center for Disease Control and other health-related parts of the government, to cut them further in the midst of a pandemic. [...]”

Is this true as stated, and were the proposed cuts significant to make the statement more than just nominally correct?

  • When we hear about cuts to this or that agency they are usually not a cut to the budget itself but a reduced increase to the budget. So, the overall budget is not cut. It is increased but by a lesser amount than usual. May 12 '20 at 21:20

The Trump budget in February proposed a 10% cut to Health and Human Services and specifically a 16% cut to the CDC (which is part of the HHS). From the Washington Post:





However, the budget was not passed into law.


You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .