Republicans Call Out Biden for Redirecting COVID-19 Funds

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael Guest (MS-03) joined a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Becerra that expresses concern over the Biden Administration's decision to redirect $860 million of funding dedicated to COVID-19 efforts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to assist with the border crisis. The federal funds in question were appropriated by Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic but were reallocated to address the needs of unaccompanied children on the border that have surged under the Biden Administration.

"The President should work with Congress to address the crisis at the border instead of taking funds Congress intended for other purposes," Guest said.

In the letter led by Congressman John Rutherford (R-FL), a Member on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, the Members write, "We are extremely disappointed to see the Department disregard Congressional appropriations amounts to only further incentivize migrants to break U.S. laws. As such, we urge the Department to ensure taxpayer funds to the NIH are maintained at their appropriated levels and work with border officials to address the ongoing crisis occurring at our southern border."

The full text of the letter can be found here.

Congressman Michael Guest represents Mississippi's Third Congressional District. Currently serving his second term, Congressman Guest serves as the Vice Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, as a Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and as a Member of the Committee on Ethics.

# # #