President Trump Orders Federal Campaign to Reduce Mosquito and Tick Populations in D.C.
President Trump has issued an executive order initiating an aggressive federal campaign to combat disease-carrying mosquitoes and ticks, starting in Washington, D.C. The directive mandates federal agencies to reduce Asian tiger, Egyptian, and other invasive mosquito populations by 90% and tick populations by 50% in the District of Columbia by 2028. This campaign will serve as a model for nationwide pest-control efforts. The order includes provisions for changes to landscaping and drainage, controls on animals that sustain tick populations, accelerated approval of emerging pest-control technologies, and new research into diagnosing, preventing, and treating mosquito- and tick-borne illnesses. These illnesses include West Nile virus, dengue, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, and alpha-gal syndrome, which can lead to neurological damage, severe allergic reactions, organ failure, and even death. Federal agencies, including the Interior Department, Department of Agriculture, Environmental ...
