Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a press conference with leaders from Trudeau Institute to take a stand against the Trump administration’s dangerous rollback of public health initiatives and research funding. Trudeau Institute is one of a limited number of New York research facilities with Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) capabilities and plays a key role in the domestic response to emerging and re-emerging bio-threats.
“President Trump’s rollbacks of public health funding are deeply troubling and will have decades-long ramifications that put Americans’ health and safety at risk,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am proud to have included $2.5 million for Trudeau Institute in the Senate version of this year’s appropriations bill to support critical biotechnology research improvements, and I will do everything in my power to advocate for the funding’s full passage. Strengthening America’s domestic response to emerging bio-threats is essential to preparing our nation to face future pandemics and safeguarding Americans’ wellbeing.”
“Support for scientific research is more critical than ever, especially for private, independent nonprofit institutions like Trudeau, who may feel the brunt of resource constraints more acutely. Trudeau scientists have always answered the call to serve the public’s interest as new health threats emerge, and the Institute stands ready to answer again when called upon,” said William Reiley, President and Director of Trudeau Institute. “Federal support from champions such as Senator Gillibrand will ensure that Trudeau’s science and technology remain on the cutting edge and allow our work to continue in safeguarding Americans against future health threats.”
Senator Gillibrand is pushing to pass $2.5 million in congressionally directed spending for Trudeau Institute. This funding was included in the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, which Gillibrand recently helped pass out of committee. It would support critical disease research improvements, strengthen United States biodefense, and support biotechnology innovation at Trudeau Institute while equipping individuals with the skills and training needed to meet the job demands of advanced instrumentation.
Bolstering the nation’s biotechnology and biodefense capabilities is a top priority for Senator Gillibrand, who leads the One Health Security Act. This bill would require the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy be continuously staffed under the leadership of a presidentially appointed director. The bill would also require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to create a unified biodefense budget for all agencies to ensure adequate biodefense funding and coordination between agencies.
Gillibrand also secured language in the Senate version of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to support biodefense. This included language to improve biosurveillance, enhance international biodefense capacity, and prevent the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in large-scale conflict.