Statement of CSPI President Michael F. Jacobson

The Administration is proposing to take a meat-axe to the budgets of the U.S. Department of Agriculture—21 percent—and the Department of Health and Human Services—almost 18 percent.  The National Institutes of Health will lose $6 billion.  While USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is spared, the HHS cuts are likely to fall disproportionately on FDA’s food program. This all means more entirely preventable cases of foodborne illness, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer; and greater health-care costs.  This budget should be considered dead on arrival.