1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

Sweeping out all 17 independent experts on the CDC's vaccine advisory committee is a blatant power grab that will inject politics into what must be an objective scientific process. Entirely replacing the group with handpicked loyalists obliterates public trust that vaccine policies will be guided by robust data rather than ideology. This hostile takeover of the committee is unconscionable and reeks of a broader anti-science agenda. Reverting to an evidence-based approach with the previous committee is vital to restoring faith in vaccine guidance and avoiding a widespread resurgence of preventable diseases. Allowing appointed vaccine skeptics to overrule medical consensus would be catastrophic for public health. The mass firing must be walked back immediately before incalculable damage is done.