Several former staff at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have warned that a wave of mass firings at the agency has left the nation’s public health system in tatters, severely hamstringing the ability to respond to outbreaks.
These terminations were not a glitch,” said Abigail Tighe, executive director of the National Public Health Coalition. “This round of firings, as with all the others experienced at CDC in the last 10 months, was an intentional attack on the American people and the public’s health,” she said, at an Oct. 13 news briefing hosted by NPHC.
At the news briefing, several former CDC employees described a pattern of confusion, intimidation and disorganization following the termination of more than 1,000 CDC workers. Cuts were made to several core CDC programs.
Political Pawns
“At this point, a quarter of CDC is gone,” Tighe said. “At the highest level of leadership, there are no public health or medical professionals left to help guide CDC recommendations. Billions in contracts to state and local public health agencies have been canceled or clawed back, and the American people are queued up to suffer.”
“We are losing the people with the knowledge to prevent childhood drownings, child abuse and suicide,” she said. “Without public health programs and experts, our country is on a frightening path.”
“Public health serves everyone,” said Tighe. “It is not partisan. But it’s being used by this administration to fight a political battle — and we all will pay the price.”
‘Illegal and Capricious’
On Oct. 10, more than 1,300 CDC employees received notices of permanent layoffs, amid the Trump Administration’s goal of “reduction in force.” The following day, about 700 CDC employees got email notices that they were not laid off. Then on Oct. 14, U.S. District Judge for Northern California Susan Illston issued a temporary injunction on the remaining layoffs.
In her ruling, Ilston said the layoffs were “illegal and in excess of authority and is arbitrary and capricious.” Those who received layoff notices are now essentially on leave with pay.
Biosecurity Unprotected
Dr. John Brooks — who retired from the CDC last year after 26 years of service and most recently served as chief medical officer for the Division of HIV Prevention — said the agency’s ongoing dismantling has weakened America’s ability to respond to public health emergencies.
“CDC protects our biosecurity: from infectious disease outbreaks, natural or manmade disasters, or other health hazards,” Brooks said. “You wouldn’t reduce critical military capabilities when threats are rising. But that’s exactly what’s happening at CDC.”
He compared the loss of CDC leaders and senior scientists to “losing generals and lieutenants” in the armed forces.
“Eight out of every 10 taxpayer dollars CDC receives go directly to state and local staff and programs that keep communities safe. With these cuts, we are less prepared for the next big outbreak or disaster.”
Brooks condemned the firing of the entire CDC Washington staff, which liaises with Congress. “Every American is less safe when their elected representatives can’t get data or expertise from CDC,” he said.
Smoking Cessation Programs Frozen
Aryn Melton Backus, a health communications specialist with CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, said she has been terminated three times since February and remains on administrative leave while her case moves through the courts.
“My situation highlights the chaos and confusion that federal employees have experienced over the past year,” she said. “I’m stuck in limbo, following court cases and trying to figure out my next step. I would love to go back to doing my job.”
The smoking prevention and cessation programs she helped manage have been frozen. “Even if we could go back to work tomorrow, it would take time to restart our programs and campaigns,” Backus said. “The administration claims the cuts were about duplication or waste, but we haven’t seen any evidence. At this point, it seems like chaos and lack of transparency is the point.”
Illness is Nonpartisan
Dr. Karen Remley, former director of CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and a former Virginia state health commissioner, emphasized the loss of coordination between federal and state health officials.
“No emergency or disaster knows any partisanship,” Remley said. “We relied on CDC as our partner — the people you call when you need national expertise.”
‘Deliberate Destruction of Science’
A current CDC scientist, who spoke anonymously because she was fired Oct. 10, said the loss of experienced staff threatens the nation’s scientific integrity.
“I’m appalled at what has happened since the start of this administration,” the scientist said. “My colleagues have been tormented, threatened, even doxxed. These are the helpers Mr. Rogers told us about — people who rush into outbreaks and disasters while everyone else runs away.”
The scientist, who oversaw grants monitoring chronic disease rates, warned that public health could become privatized. “Do you want to pay a subscription fee to see rates of flu in your state? Or rely on a company with a conflict of interest to warn you about a measles outbreak,” she queried. “This is the deliberate destruction of science and lives.”
