The recent cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have sparked a crisis that threatens the very foundation of public health in the United States. This is not just a story of budget cuts; it's a narrative of how political decisions can dismantle an agency's capacity to safeguard the health of a nation.
Since the Trump administration's arrival in 2025, the CDC has faced an onslaught of challenges. From mass firings and communication freezes to political interference in scientific missions, the agency's workforce has endured an unprecedented level of turmoil. As a public health researcher and a former CDC employee, I've witnessed the impact of these changes firsthand, and the results are deeply concerning.
Our survey of over 600 CDC workers paints a bleak picture. The CDC's ability to fulfill its mission - to protect and improve the health of Americans - is severely compromised. With key leadership positions vacant and a workforce in flux, the agency is struggling to respond effectively to public health emergencies, including the current Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.
The Impact on Emergency Response
In our survey, an overwhelming 99% of CDC employees reported that the administration's changes have reduced the agency's capacity to respond to public health emergencies. This is not just a theoretical concern; it's already evident in the CDC's response to measles outbreaks in the U.S., where communication has been sparse and confusing, attributed to the cuts.
A Specialized Workforce in Crisis
The CDC houses a specialized public health workforce tasked with tackling the nation's most critical health issues. Since 2025, the agency has lost over a quarter of its federal employees, with mass firings and resignations. Among the current CDC workers we surveyed, a staggering 85% reported burnout, and 1 in 5 have decided to leave, further straining the agency's resources.
The Anti-Science Stance and Its Consequences
The anti-vaccine and anti-science stance of the administration has led to scientific censorship and political interference in the CDC's public health mission. This has resulted in the resignation of senior leaders and scientists, with many citing budget cuts and political interference as their reasons for leaving. The nonscientific workforce has also been hard-hit, with the elimination of digital media teams, offices handling employment and information requests, and much of human resources.
Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention at Risk
While the CDC's responses to infectious disease outbreaks often grab headlines, a significant portion of its work focuses on chronic disease and injury prevention. Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death in the U.S., and injuries are the top killer of American children. Despite assertions to the contrary, the administration has quietly shuttered many of the CDC's chronic disease and injury prevention programs, including those dedicated to women's health, violence prevention, infertility tracking, tobacco reduction, and healthy aging.
The Ripple Effect Across the Country
Many of the CDC's functions are invisible to the public, making it easy to underestimate the damage. The agency plays a vital role in sustaining the nation's public health infrastructure by funding public health programs run by state, territorial, tribal, and local partners. With sudden cuts to federal funding, health departments across the country are struggling to maintain their health data collection and promotion activities, directly impacting local communities.
A Troubling Outlook
In our survey, a staggering 95% of current and former CDC employees believe that Americans will die as a direct result of the administration's changes to the agency. This is a stark reminder of the real-world consequences of political decisions. The observations of current and recent CDC employees serve as a warning sign - a sign that the U.S. government is losing its ability to protect the nation's health.
This crisis at the CDC is a wake-up call, highlighting the importance of a strong, well-funded, and politically independent public health agency. It's a call to action to ensure that the CDC can continue its vital work, free from political interference, to protect the health and well-being of all Americans.
