Tom Bollyky
@tombollyky.bsky.social
Bloomberg Chair in Global Health and Senior Fellow in Int'l Economics & Development @CFR_org. Founder of Think Global Health. Law Prof sometimes.
Reposted by Tom Bollyky
The new America First Global Health Strategy goes back to the future
Meaning, the strategy is a seriously regressive one
@tombollyky.bsky.social
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Meaning, the strategy is a seriously regressive one
@tombollyky.bsky.social
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
The new America First Global Health Strategy goes back to the future
After months of effectively dismantling the architecture of US global health engagement
by closing the US Agency for International Development, reducing its annual global
health awards by an estimated...
www.thelancet.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:59 AM
The new America First Global Health Strategy goes back to the future
Meaning, the strategy is a seriously regressive one
@tombollyky.bsky.social
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Meaning, the strategy is a seriously regressive one
@tombollyky.bsky.social
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Tom Bollyky
"The new America First Global Health Strategy"
Check out the lede
Yet "The world still faces dire health threats that countries
cannot fight alone"
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... @thelancet.com by @tombollyky.bsky.social
Check out the lede
Yet "The world still faces dire health threats that countries
cannot fight alone"
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... @thelancet.com by @tombollyky.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 11:41 PM
"The new America First Global Health Strategy"
Check out the lede
Yet "The world still faces dire health threats that countries
cannot fight alone"
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... @thelancet.com by @tombollyky.bsky.social
Check out the lede
Yet "The world still faces dire health threats that countries
cannot fight alone"
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... @thelancet.com by @tombollyky.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Bollyky
Secretary Kennedy’s Senate hearing illustrated that the United States’ scientific reputation—long considered a global gold standard—is at risk of eroding. @tombollyky.bsky.social writes: "There is no question that the events of the last week have put the health and lives of Americans at risk."
Why Stakes Are High in the U.S. Vaccine Debate
Secretary Kennedy’s Senate hearing on Thursday illustrated that the United States’ scientific reputation—long considered a global gold standard—is at risk of eroding.
on.cfr.org
September 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Secretary Kennedy’s Senate hearing illustrated that the United States’ scientific reputation—long considered a global gold standard—is at risk of eroding. @tombollyky.bsky.social writes: "There is no question that the events of the last week have put the health and lives of Americans at risk."
This article on Disney and the collapse of the middle class is an absolute banger
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/o...
Opinion | Disney and the Decline of America’s Middle Class
www.nytimes.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:33 PM
this is a disaster -- Monarez fired, 4 leading CDC officials (Houry, Dasakalakis, Jernigan, Layden) resign
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/h...
CDC Director Susan Monarez Resists Ouster as Other Officials Resign
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is said to have demanded that the director, Susan Monarez, either quit or be fired. Her lawyers say she won’t resign.
www.nytimes.com
August 28, 2025 at 8:32 AM
this is a disaster -- Monarez fired, 4 leading CDC officials (Houry, Dasakalakis, Jernigan, Layden) resign
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/h...
Botswana's President Duma Boko declared a public health emergency on Monday, saying the national medical supply chain had failed
A Botswana govt spokesperson ft did not immediately respond to questions about whether US aid cuts contributed to the crisis
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
A Botswana govt spokesperson ft did not immediately respond to questions about whether US aid cuts contributed to the crisis
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
Botswana declares public health emergency as clinics run out of medicine
Botswana's President Duma Boko declared a public health emergency on Monday, saying the national medical supply chain had failed, leaving hospitals and clinics short of medicine and other vital stock.
www.reuters.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Botswana's President Duma Boko declared a public health emergency on Monday, saying the national medical supply chain had failed
A Botswana govt spokesperson ft did not immediately respond to questions about whether US aid cuts contributed to the crisis
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
A Botswana govt spokesperson ft did not immediately respond to questions about whether US aid cuts contributed to the crisis
www.reuters.com/business/hea...
A (very) early Saturday morning CNN interview on President Trump's budget request for #globalhealth
video.snapstream.net/Play/ym1g305...
video.snapstream.net/Play/ym1g305...
CNN Newsroom - Tom Bollyky
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video.snapstream.net
June 7, 2025 at 10:45 AM
A (very) early Saturday morning CNN interview on President Trump's budget request for #globalhealth
video.snapstream.net/Play/ym1g305...
video.snapstream.net/Play/ym1g305...
Reposted by Tom Bollyky
BREAKING: In a serious blow to US pandemic flu preparedness, HHS has cancelled a contract with Moderna to test and license prototype vaccines for #H5N1 #birdflu and other potential pandemic viruses.
In a pandemic, mRNA is the fastest way to vaccine doses. www.statnews.com/2025/05/28/m...
In a pandemic, mRNA is the fastest way to vaccine doses. www.statnews.com/2025/05/28/m...
HHS cancels nearly $600 million Moderna contract on vaccines for flu pandemics
HHS has notified Moderna that it is canceling a nearly $600 million contract for vaccines for flu strains that could trigger future pandemics.
www.statnews.com
May 28, 2025 at 10:02 PM
BREAKING: In a serious blow to US pandemic flu preparedness, HHS has cancelled a contract with Moderna to test and license prototype vaccines for #H5N1 #birdflu and other potential pandemic viruses.
In a pandemic, mRNA is the fastest way to vaccine doses. www.statnews.com/2025/05/28/m...
In a pandemic, mRNA is the fastest way to vaccine doses. www.statnews.com/2025/05/28/m...
Secretary Kennedy has made chronic disease his top priority, yet, under his watch, HHS shuttered the CDC Office on Smoking, a top driver of cardiovascular disease, cancer and premature death in the United States
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/h...
Trump Budget Cuts Hobble Antismoking Programs
www.nytimes.com
May 20, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Secretary Kennedy has made chronic disease his top priority, yet, under his watch, HHS shuttered the CDC Office on Smoking, a top driver of cardiovascular disease, cancer and premature death in the United States
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/h...
Today's executive order is not the first time that the President has proposed that the way to cut US drug prices at home is to raise them abroad.
Read this from @akesselheim.bsky.social, @drjoshs.bsky.social and me in the @nytimes.com on why this won't work
www.nytimes.com/2018/05/14/o...
Read this from @akesselheim.bsky.social, @drjoshs.bsky.social and me in the @nytimes.com on why this won't work
www.nytimes.com/2018/05/14/o...
Opinion | What Trump Should Actually Do About the High Cost of Drugs (Published 2018)
www.nytimes.com
May 12, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Today's executive order is not the first time that the President has proposed that the way to cut US drug prices at home is to raise them abroad.
Read this from @akesselheim.bsky.social, @drjoshs.bsky.social and me in the @nytimes.com on why this won't work
www.nytimes.com/2018/05/14/o...
Read this from @akesselheim.bsky.social, @drjoshs.bsky.social and me in the @nytimes.com on why this won't work
www.nytimes.com/2018/05/14/o...
Reposted by Tom Bollyky
At FDA, I'm told Center for Tobacco Products's office of compliance and enforcement was slashed by 50%. All CTP contractors too.
All pending CTP compliance cases will be affected.
(Note that CDC's Office on Smoking & Health division was eliminated entirely - so there seems to be a theme here.)
All pending CTP compliance cases will be affected.
(Note that CDC's Office on Smoking & Health division was eliminated entirely - so there seems to be a theme here.)
April 1, 2025 at 7:48 PM
At FDA, I'm told Center for Tobacco Products's office of compliance and enforcement was slashed by 50%. All CTP contractors too.
All pending CTP compliance cases will be affected.
(Note that CDC's Office on Smoking & Health division was eliminated entirely - so there seems to be a theme here.)
All pending CTP compliance cases will be affected.
(Note that CDC's Office on Smoking & Health division was eliminated entirely - so there seems to be a theme here.)
It's not often we have a reference to Eye of Sauron in @thinkglobalhealth.org
Useful article from Ambassador Michelle Gavin on why there has been muted response from African leaders to the withdrawal of billions of dollars in US aid to the region
www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/afri...
Useful article from Ambassador Michelle Gavin on why there has been muted response from African leaders to the withdrawal of billions of dollars in US aid to the region
www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/afri...
Africa's Quiet Response to U.S. Realignment of Foreign Aid | Think Global Health
Characterizing the end of U.S. aid as a catalyst allows African politicians to emphasize their readiness for a new era
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
April 1, 2025 at 8:16 PM
It's not often we have a reference to Eye of Sauron in @thinkglobalhealth.org
Useful article from Ambassador Michelle Gavin on why there has been muted response from African leaders to the withdrawal of billions of dollars in US aid to the region
www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/afri...
Useful article from Ambassador Michelle Gavin on why there has been muted response from African leaders to the withdrawal of billions of dollars in US aid to the region
www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/afri...
Reposted by Tom Bollyky
Excellent article in @foreignaffairs.com by @tombollyky.bsky.social and Yanzhong Huang: America's retreat from foreign assistance and global health opens doors for others to step in, but unfilled voids will threaten health security for decades to come.
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/coming...
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/coming...
The Coming Global Health Crisis
America is retreating, and China won’t fill the void.
www.foreignaffairs.com
March 31, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Excellent article in @foreignaffairs.com by @tombollyky.bsky.social and Yanzhong Huang: America's retreat from foreign assistance and global health opens doors for others to step in, but unfilled voids will threaten health security for decades to come.
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/coming...
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/coming...
Reposted by Tom Bollyky
Here's a running list I've been sent of divisions losing staff. Not comprehensive; admin has not been transparent about who/what divisions they're spiking.
Layoffs include those in HIV/STD work, blood disorders, Office on Smoking and Health (eliminated entirely), work on miner’s safety (eliminated)
Layoffs include those in HIV/STD work, blood disorders, Office on Smoking and Health (eliminated entirely), work on miner’s safety (eliminated)
April 1, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Here's a running list I've been sent of divisions losing staff. Not comprehensive; admin has not been transparent about who/what divisions they're spiking.
Layoffs include those in HIV/STD work, blood disorders, Office on Smoking and Health (eliminated entirely), work on miner’s safety (eliminated)
Layoffs include those in HIV/STD work, blood disorders, Office on Smoking and Health (eliminated entirely), work on miner’s safety (eliminated)
Reposted by Tom Bollyky
State and local public health departments are bracing themselves as the CDC pulls back about $11.4 billion in grants that were allocated to state and community health departments during the Covid-19 pandemic response.
Trump administration pulls back billions in Covid-era funding for state, local health departments | CNN
State and local public health departments are bracing themselves as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pulls back about $11.4 billion in grants that were allocated to state and communit...
www.cnn.com
March 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
State and local public health departments are bracing themselves as the CDC pulls back about $11.4 billion in grants that were allocated to state and community health departments during the Covid-19 pandemic response.
Reposted by Tom Bollyky
The consequences of devastating US foreign aid: lost surveillance, research, response capacity, more people sick, more people dead. How does abandoning the world make America great?
Great if difficult to read piece by @tombollyky.bsky.social & Yanzhong Huang
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/coming...
Great if difficult to read piece by @tombollyky.bsky.social & Yanzhong Huang
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/coming...
The Coming Global Health Crisis
America is retreating, and China won’t fill the void.
www.foreignaffairs.com
March 25, 2025 at 12:49 PM
The consequences of devastating US foreign aid: lost surveillance, research, response capacity, more people sick, more people dead. How does abandoning the world make America great?
Great if difficult to read piece by @tombollyky.bsky.social & Yanzhong Huang
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/coming...
Great if difficult to read piece by @tombollyky.bsky.social & Yanzhong Huang
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/coming...
China is poor match for replacing most US #globalhealth aid
20 yrs ago, biggest recipients of Chinese health aid were in Africa
Today, almost none are
In 2023, China’s bilateral health aid sunk to lowest levels since 2010
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/coming...
20 yrs ago, biggest recipients of Chinese health aid were in Africa
Today, almost none are
In 2023, China’s bilateral health aid sunk to lowest levels since 2010
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/coming...
March 24, 2025 at 6:35 PM
China is poor match for replacing most US #globalhealth aid
20 yrs ago, biggest recipients of Chinese health aid were in Africa
Today, almost none are
In 2023, China’s bilateral health aid sunk to lowest levels since 2010
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/coming...
20 yrs ago, biggest recipients of Chinese health aid were in Africa
Today, almost none are
In 2023, China’s bilateral health aid sunk to lowest levels since 2010
www.foreignaffairs.com/china/coming...
Reposted by Tom Bollyky
Five years ago, on March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency concerning the COVID-19 outbreak.
Below is a short 🧵of Think Global Health articles on how COVID continues to shape global health policy and inform ways to protect public health.
Below is a short 🧵of Think Global Health articles on how COVID continues to shape global health policy and inform ways to protect public health.
March 13, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Five years ago, on March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency concerning the COVID-19 outbreak.
Below is a short 🧵of Think Global Health articles on how COVID continues to shape global health policy and inform ways to protect public health.
Below is a short 🧵of Think Global Health articles on how COVID continues to shape global health policy and inform ways to protect public health.
I like this @nytimes.com COVID in charts feature. So much has returned to prior trend.
The exceptions?
Time spent alone, vaccination, debt
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The exceptions?
Time spent alone, vaccination, debt
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
March 10, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I like this @nytimes.com COVID in charts feature. So much has returned to prior trend.
The exceptions?
Time spent alone, vaccination, debt
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The exceptions?
Time spent alone, vaccination, debt
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
In 2003, Pres Bush used 301 words in State of Union to announce PEPFAR program which wld save 26 million lives
For years after, DC think tanks printed SOTU bingo cards & had viewing parties to track new initiatives
Card terms incl vaccines, debt relief clean energy
How US ambitions have changed
For years after, DC think tanks printed SOTU bingo cards & had viewing parties to track new initiatives
Card terms incl vaccines, debt relief clean energy
How US ambitions have changed
March 4, 2025 at 3:57 PM
In 2003, Pres Bush used 301 words in State of Union to announce PEPFAR program which wld save 26 million lives
For years after, DC think tanks printed SOTU bingo cards & had viewing parties to track new initiatives
Card terms incl vaccines, debt relief clean energy
How US ambitions have changed
For years after, DC think tanks printed SOTU bingo cards & had viewing parties to track new initiatives
Card terms incl vaccines, debt relief clean energy
How US ambitions have changed
UK aid budget to be reduced from 0.5% GDP to 0.3% by 2027.
The hits keep coming for international development and #globalhealth
As of 2019, ~14% of UK bilateral aid was devoted to health. The UK has also been largest govt donor to GAVI.
www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-...
The hits keep coming for international development and #globalhealth
As of 2019, ~14% of UK bilateral aid was devoted to health. The UK has also been largest govt donor to GAVI.
www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-...
UK to target 3% of GDP for defence spending, to cut aid budget
Britain will aim to spend 3% of its GDP on defence in the next parliament, due to begin in 2029, and will help to fund that increased spending by cutting its aid budget, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday.
www.reuters.com
February 25, 2025 at 5:49 PM
UK aid budget to be reduced from 0.5% GDP to 0.3% by 2027.
The hits keep coming for international development and #globalhealth
As of 2019, ~14% of UK bilateral aid was devoted to health. The UK has also been largest govt donor to GAVI.
www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-...
The hits keep coming for international development and #globalhealth
As of 2019, ~14% of UK bilateral aid was devoted to health. The UK has also been largest govt donor to GAVI.
www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-...
A positive development
The #WHO -led process to select the strains next winter's #flu vaccine will target got underway in London today. Though it was not clear they'd be able to attend, because of the Trump administration's ban on dealings with WHO, #CDC & #FDA are taking part virtually. www.statnews.com/2025/02/24/u...
U.S. joins WHO-led flu vaccine meeting, despite planned withdrawal from agency
The United States has joined a WHO-led flu vaccine meeting, despite the Trump administration's plans to withdraw from the global health agency.
www.statnews.com
February 25, 2025 at 9:22 AM
A positive development
“I can’t buy medications with a waiver”
Important reporting from @stephanienolen.bsky.social
on why vital USAID #globalhealth programs remained stalled
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/20/h...
Important reporting from @stephanienolen.bsky.social
on why vital USAID #globalhealth programs remained stalled
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/20/h...
Emergency Food, TB Tests and H.I.V. Drugs: Vital Health Aid Remains Frozen Despite Court Ruling
The Trump administration appears to be flouting a judge’s order pausing the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D.
www.nytimes.com
February 20, 2025 at 9:19 PM
“I can’t buy medications with a waiver”
Important reporting from @stephanienolen.bsky.social
on why vital USAID #globalhealth programs remained stalled
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/20/h...
Important reporting from @stephanienolen.bsky.social
on why vital USAID #globalhealth programs remained stalled
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/20/h...
Reposted by Tom Bollyky
On Friday night, HHS ordered CDC to take down all flu vaccine campaign materials from its website. Materials are starting to come down.
For example, a campaign explaining that flu shot can reduce flu severity from "wild to mild" is now offline. Left image is from Friday, right is now
Meanwhile...
For example, a campaign explaining that flu shot can reduce flu severity from "wild to mild" is now offline. Left image is from Friday, right is now
Meanwhile...
February 16, 2025 at 5:30 PM
On Friday night, HHS ordered CDC to take down all flu vaccine campaign materials from its website. Materials are starting to come down.
For example, a campaign explaining that flu shot can reduce flu severity from "wild to mild" is now offline. Left image is from Friday, right is now
Meanwhile...
For example, a campaign explaining that flu shot can reduce flu severity from "wild to mild" is now offline. Left image is from Friday, right is now
Meanwhile...