Trump’s Executive Order Targets Mosquito and Tick Control

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at curbing the mosquito population in Washington, D.C. The order was signed on Tuesday amidst Florida’s dengue fever outbreak. Trump’s directive tasks Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, among other officials, with a 60-day campaign to reduce certain invasive mosquito species by 90%.

The order additionally targets the area’s tick population, aiming for a 50% reduction over two years. The campaign intends to remediate breeding grounds on federally controlled lands in D.C., employing both technical and commonsense strategies. The plan emphasizes the use of commercial capabilities or cooperative agreements to achieve these objectives.

The executive order also instructs various federal agencies to establish a regulatory framework for emerging mosquito and tick control technologies. The focus lies on non-chemical approaches that are deemed safe and effective by officials.

“Foreign, invasive mosquitoes are multiplying across the United States and have become the dominant species in some areas,” the order declares.

Research efforts aiming to prevent and treat mosquito and tick-borne diseases will be expanded. This includes new prize competitions, federal research programs, and public-private partnerships designed to foster innovation.

The order highlights the administration’s commitment to combating Lyme disease and other vector-borne illnesses through existing efforts and novel technologies aimed at reducing pest populations that carry these diseases.

A significant focus of the directive involves evaluating labeling options for products containing alpha-galactose, due to concerns about alpha-gal syndrome. This red-meat allergy, potentially severe, has been linked to tick bites.

The order concludes with a commitment to make D.C. safer and more beautiful, aligning with Trump’s broader Make America Healthy Again agenda and beautification efforts in tandem with recent semiquincentennial celebrations.

Florida’s Dengue Fever Outbreak

Florida is currently dealing with an “unusual” dengue fever outbreak, prompting three counties to declare emergencies as cases rise. So far, there have been 190 locally acquired cases in 2026 across six counties, with Hillsborough County reporting 170 cases.

A combination of weather factors, including heavy rainfall, seems to have contributed to the spike in cases. Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, mainly Aedes aegypti. It has grown to become a significant global health concern due to its rapid spread.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that, while most dengue cases occur in travelers, local transmission is feasible. The virus is common in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including areas like Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and parts of Africa.