Assistant Professor | Outbreaks, Genomic Epidemiology, & Public Health
Here’s how this week’s federal HHS layoffs — 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝟬.𝟭% 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 — affect everyone. These are aggregated from various news articles I doom-scrolled yesterday: ▶️Are you a 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁? CDC’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) was eliminated. This team collected data from states to understand pregnancy complications and reduce infant deaths. If you’ve received prenatal health guidance—PRAMS probably informed it. ▶️Work in a job with possible 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀? NIOSH lost over 800 staff. Teams monitoring toxic exposures and other job-related illnesses and injuries were eliminated. ▶️Know someone affected by 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻/𝘀𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲? SAMHSA cut staff supporting state opioid overdose and suicide surveillance programs. ▶️Take prescription 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) lost over 800 staff—those who review new drugs, monitor side effects, and update safety labels. ▶️Worried about injuries, 𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗺𝗮, lead poisoning, or gun violence? CDC cut teams working on injury prevention, environmental health, and national data systems like WISQARS. ▶️Had a 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 appointment recently? The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research eliminated its education and outreach division, which promoted childhood oral health and prevention. ▶️Rely on rural or community 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀? HRSA’s Bureau of Primary Health Care, which serves 31 million people, lost a third of its staff. This affects prenatal care, HIV programs, and access in underserved areas. ▶️Ever had an 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 disease? Entire teams working on HIV, tuberculosis, and global health preparedness were cut. Even the acting director of NIAID was placed on leave. ▶️Think emergency 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 matter? The Strategic National Stockpile team—responsible for pandemic PPE, vaccines, and critical medical equipment—was hit. ▶️Have a loved one in 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 or on Medicare? CMS lost staff focused on nursing home oversight, home health inspections, fraud detection, and minority health rights. ▶️Support 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 health abroad? USAID funding for global family planning was terminated, cutting off contraception access for nearly 50 million people. ▶️Need help with utility bills or emergency support? The entire federal staff of LIHEAP was laid off. This program helped low-income families keep the lights and heat on. ▶️Care about tobacco prevention and cessation? CDC’s Tobacco Control Program was gutted, pausing key efforts to reduce smoking-related deaths. ▶️Value government transparency? CDC’s FOIA office was eliminated, cutting off public access to health data and records. These aren’t administrative trims. These are broad, systemic cuts targeting the very people and programs that keep the public healthy and safe. Stay informed. Speak up. 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲. We all have something to lose.
Don’t forget that all of the radiation science group is gone as well 😢
And how much golf has the "leader" enjoyed since stepping foot into this role. If the goal is to cut costs and be more "responsible" and "efficient".....take away the option to go golfing on his "resort"
Insidious hollowing of carefully built societal infrastructure designed to protect and assure our collective wellbeing.
Not to mention the impacts of breaking up and firing half the staff of Administration for Community Living
I agree! And sadly all of the widespread program and personnel eliminations that have occurred in the past number of weeks were carried out without any evaluation of need, of reach, of outcomes produced, without understanding of why the program existed or knowledge of human impact without them. People are suffering and yet on several occasions we have witnessed glee and delight on the nightly news following the desecration of the programs and services. It is a living nightmare for those of us who have worked in public and community health and have firsthand knowledge of the importance of these services for everyone’s health and wellbeing on some level.
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All of communications! Read my stories on my page about more impact
Thank you for this thoughtful and comprehensive post. https://www.research.va.gov/research_in_action/Diabetes-drug-from-Gila-monster-venom.cfm #knowledgeispower #silenceisacceptance
This is heartbreaking and alarming. The impact of these federal HHS layoffs goes far beyond just numbers—it directly affects vulnerable populations, public health, and essential services we often take for granted. As a healthcare professional, it’s disheartening to see critical programs like PRAMS, opioid surveillance, and rural health services dismantled for minimal budget savings. These aren’t just “cuts”—they’re losses in our ability to prevent crises and care for our communities. Thank you for breaking this down so clearly.
Assistant Professor | Outbreaks, Genomic Epidemiology, & Public Health
2wAnother: a whole CDC group of 19 people studying Alzheimer’s disease https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7313262283923607553-hKrd?utm_medium=ios_app&rcm=ACoAAA2FBTEBAFF42r5xMmszITD8SMGvZaKlxNY&utm_source=social_share_send&utm_campaign=copy_link