News outlets report on state and federal officials’ concerns that recent budget cuts are hindering local and national responses to Ebola.

CQ News: Ebola Case Prompts New Appeals for Local Health Spending
“The first case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States has led public heath officials to lobby for a reversal of deep budget cuts made in recent years to local preparedness efforts against damaging and deadly infectious diseases. … Recent federal budget standoffs have resulted in a disproportionate hit to some public health grants and to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the main conduit for channeling public health dollars into the community…” (Young, 10/6).

The Hill: CDC funds ‘moving in the wrong direction,’ Casey says
“Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) on Monday expressed concern over funding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) amid the Ebola outbreak. On MSNBC’s ‘Jose Diaz-Balart,’ Casey noted that the CDC budget has been cut by more than $500 million in recent years. … Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), ranking member on the House Budget Committee, said last Thursday on CNN that there’s ‘no doubt’ health care cuts have made it more difficult to respond to the Ebola epidemic…” (Shabad, 10/6).