1. United States
2. W.V.
3. Letter

The decision to eliminate the Public Health Associate Program (PHAP) and Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS) would severely weaken America's ability to detect and respond to public health threats, including infectious diseases like H5N1 avian influenza. Cutting PHAP would widen the gap between CDC guidance and local implementation by eliminating a vital pipeline that trains frontline public health workers. Without these associates embedded in state and local health departments, CDC policies risk becoming increasingly divorced from real-world challenges. This disconnect hampered the COVID-19 response when CDC guidance was often impractical for overwhelmed local agencies. Moreover, eliminating LLS would undermine biosafety and quality control in public health labs across the country. LLS trains the next generation of lab leaders, addressing long-standing vulnerabilities that previously led to mishandling of deadly pathogens and mishaps like the failed COVID-19 test rollout. Public health labs play an essential role in outbreak surveillance and response that private labs cannot fulfill. Rather than dismantling these vital programs, we should be strengthening our public health workforce and laboratory capabilities to better prevent and contain infectious disease threats. Cutting PHAP and LLS is short-sighted and will ultimately put more American lives at risk from the next pandemic or emerging pathogen. Scientific expertise and robust public health infrastructure are crucial for protecting our nation's security and safety.