The United States is currently grappling with a convergence of crises, including disease outbreaks, environmental vulnerabilities, and weakened election security, amid significant federal government cutbacks.

Over the past year, the Trump administration has reduced the federal workforce, rolled back environmental protections aimed at combating climate change, cut funding for scientific research, and pursued legislation imposing new voting restrictions. A nationwide outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness causing notable diarrhea, has added to public health concerns.

Despite public statements expressing concern about election security, the administration has weakened offices responsible for safeguarding US elections. Since January 2025, the FBI has lost up to 2,800 agents, and Bill Pulte, acting director of national intelligence, reportedly fired dozens of staff members, according to CNN.

On his first day back in office, Trump pardoned approximately 1,500 individuals convicted or charged in relation to the January 6 insurrection and has promoted conspiracy theories supportive of Tina Peters, a Colorado election clerk convicted for breaking election security after the 2020 election.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) delayed funding for a facility crucial to slowing the screwworm’s impact on the US cattle supply and postponed a $100 million research initiative intended to develop new tools against the insect’s spread.

Shaughnessy Naughton, president of 314 Action, which advocates for scientists in public office, stated, “We’ve already seen what happens when Donald Trump’s political appointees are put in charge of health and science funding – setback ensues. Screwworm monitoring, food safety surveillance and vaccine programs have been arbitrarily cut and less than a year later, we’re facing multiple infectious disease outbreaks.”

Sources