‘Often flying blind’: Up to $246 million of taxpayer-funded CDC programs are largely unstaffed
The Office on Smoking and Health, the epilepsy program, sickle cell disease data collection operation, the rape prevention unit: all zombies.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has numerous programs that are chronically understaffed, despite Congress appropriating significant funding for them. These "zombie programs" include the Office on Smoking and Health, which received $246 million in appropriations, and various initiatives focused on Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, sickle cell disease, and pregnancy health.
Despite these funds, the CDC's experts responsible for these programs were laid off or placed on unpaid leave during the Trump administration's effort to reorganize the Department of Health and Human Services. While some of the cuts have been reversed or placed on administrative leave, the consequences of these decisions are severe for public health efforts.
Without the expertise of these professionals, the CDC is left "flying blind" in its attempts to address health threats and preventable diseases.
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