An open letter to the President & U.S. Congress; State Governors & Legislatures
Reinstate public health workers ensuring Americans' wellbeing
146 so far! Help us get to 250 signers!
The Trump administration's widespread firing of federal workers across critical public health agencies is deeply concerning and threatens to undermine efforts to safeguard the wellbeing of all Americans. These dedicated professionals play vital roles in addressing complex issues with life-or-death consequences, from ensuring the safe donation and timely transport of organs to protecting children from dangerous tobacco products and reducing alarming rates of maternal and infant mortality. Terminating their employment jeopardizes ongoing programs and initiatives aimed at solving these pressing public health challenges. This reckless gutting of expertise and dismantling of institutional knowledge will have grave implications. Crucial work to modernize outdated systems, enhance regulatory oversight, expand access to care, and drive policy reforms stands to be derailed or indefinitely delayed. With widespread staffing reductions, remaining employees will face overwhelming workloads, increasing the likelihood of errors and oversight failures that could cost lives. Public health and safety should be a paramount priority, not an expendable bureaucratic target. I urge you to reconsider these counterproductive terminations that directly undermine efforts to protect our nation's people. Instead of shrinking the public workforce, we should be bolstering it with the resources and personnel needed to properly fulfill the government's responsibility to safeguard public health and welfare. The consequences of these short-sighted actions are far too severe. I implore you to reverse course and reinstate the terminated workers vital to preserving the wellbeing of all Americans.