I am writing to express my deep concern over the recent mass layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) implemented by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. These cuts, affecting over 1,000 employees including scientists, doctors, and public health officials, pose a severe threat to our nation's ability to respond to health crises and protect public safety.
The layoffs have decimated critical CDC divisions responsible for disease outbreak investigations, infectious disease responses, data collection, and communication with global partners and Congress. Entire offices and teams have been eliminated, leaving gaping holes in our public health infrastructure. This drastic reduction in workforce, occurring during a government shutdown, has compromised more than a dozen CDC divisions and centers.
While some firings were later rescinded due to a "miscoding error," the overall impact remains devastating. These cuts will severely hamper the CDC's capacity to detect, respond to, and prevent public health threats. In an era of emerging infectious diseases and global health challenges, we cannot afford to weaken our first line of defense.
Secretary Kennedy's actions appear to be part of a larger pattern of decisions that undermine the CDC's scientific integrity and effectiveness. This approach to public health leadership is not only short-sighted but potentially dangerous to the well-being of all Americans.
I urge you to take immediate action to reverse these layoffs and restore full funding and staffing to the CDC. Our nation's health security depends on a robust, fully-functional CDC. Please prioritize this issue in upcoming budget negotiations and oversight hearings. The lives and health of your constituents – indeed, all Americans – may depend on your swift action to address this critical situation.
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