Cyclospora Is Spreading. Congress Must Restore CDC Funds.

A foodborne parasite is spreading across the country — and officials still have not confirmed how it spread so fast.

That is outrageous. The CDC exists to detect outbreaks, trace contaminated food, and warn the public before more people get sick. But Elon Musk, DOGE and the Trump administration gutted public-health capacity, slashed staff, and weakened the very systems that are supposed to protect our food supply.

Now families are paying the price.

Cyclospora can cause severe diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, and weeks of illness. For children, seniors, immunocompromised people, and anyone who cannot easily afford medical care, this outbreak can become dangerous fast. That's why Congress must take action to end CDC cuts immediately.

Tell Congress: Restore CDC foodborne illness funding, reverse DOGE’s reckless cuts, and demand full transparency now.

When politicians attack the CDC, outbreaks become harder to stop. Contaminated food can stay on shelves longer. Families are left guessing what is safe to eat, and local health departments are forced to scramble while preventable illness spreads.

This is a public-health failure. Cutting the people and programs that track dangerous outbreaks does not save families money — it puts them at risk at the grocery store, at the dinner table, and in their own kitchens.

Congress must restore CDC funding, reverse DOGE-driven staffing cuts, strengthen foodborne illness surveillance, and require the CDC and FDA to keep the public updated until this outbreak is contained.

Add your name now and demand Congress restore the public-health funding DOGE helped destroy before more families get sick.

The petition to Congress reads:

“Restore CDC foodborne illness surveillance funding, reverse DOGE-driven staffing cuts, require transparent CDC and FDA outbreak updates, and give public-health agencies the resources to trace and stop contaminated food outbreaks before more people get sick.”