CDC’s new director is pressed to do something about its zombie programs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is grappling with a series of underfunded and unstaffed programs, dubbed "zombie programs," following a wave of layoffs by the Trump administration. These programs, included in annual appropriations bills, continue to receive congressional funding but lack the expertise to effectively carry out their missions.

Sen. Tim Kaine, in Dr. Erica Schwartz's confirmation hearing, questioned whether the CDC would follow the law if it appropriated money for the CDC's smoking office. Schwartz responded that she would always follow the law, emphasizing the importance of complying with congressional appropriations.

The Obama administration had initially funded and staffed these programs, but the Trump administration's 2025 layoff decision wiped out the expertise needed to run them. The cuts left the CDC without key researchers, scientists, and doctors who had long guided U.S. medical research and drug approvals.

While some cuts were later reversed due to litigation, many of the cuts endured. As a result, the CDC is left with experts on administrative leave, paid but unable to perform their duties. This situation has left public health efforts associated with these programs in limbo, with experts unable to provide crucial guidance and coordination.

Dr. Erica Schwartz, the newly appointed CDC director, inherited these zombie programs and faces pressure from Congress to bring some of them back to life. However, the absence of a full staff and the challenges posed by the previous administration's cuts have created significant obstacles in reviving these underfunded and unstaffed programs.