The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has seen a significant cut in funding for its sexually transmitted infection lab, amid rising cases of syphilis and other STIs. The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader cuts to public health programs.
Wisconsin has reported a staggering 1,450% increase in syphilis cases since 2019, mirroring a nationwide trend that experts say is “heartbreaking.” Congenital syphilis, which occurs when a fetus contracts the disease in the womb, is also on the rise. Experts warn that the closure of the CDC lab will make it harder to diagnose and treat STIs.
The Trump administration’s cuts have already had a significant impact on public health departments across the US. With the lab now closed, experts fear that there will be a “rebound” in STI cases as staff are laid off and programs are discontinued. The CDC lab was one of three globally that worked to monitor antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea, but its closure leaves a significant gap.
Experts say that the administration’s cuts to public health funding have had far-reaching consequences. Funding for grants to study STI testing and prevention among transgender women has been ended, as well as efforts to improve healthcare in vulnerable communities like the Mississippi Delta region.
The impact of the cuts is being felt across the US, with local health officials warning that the closure of the CDC lab will make it harder to ensure proper medical care for those affected by STIs. As one expert noted, “We want to maintain our capacity to ensure proper medical care is given, that the correct medications are available to medical facilities.”
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/21/syphilis-trump-cuts-cdc-doge