The CDC has deployed a team to assist local officials in Texas in managing a severe measles outbreak that has already resulted in the death of a child. This proactive response aims to curb the outbreak and reinforce public health measures amidst rising cases.

As part of a broader HHS restructuring aligned with Trump-era policies, the CDC is slated to absorb the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), expanding its authority amidst significant federal layoffs and reduced DEI-related spending.

On April 1, 2025, CDC employees were abruptly notified of a reduction in force—a move widely interpreted as political retribution linked to the Trump administration. Critical public health programs, including those targeting HIV and chronic diseases, were significantly impacted with little effort to reallocate or transfer affected workers.

The Trump administration’s restructuring of federal health agencies has led to the layoff, administrative leave, and reassignment of thousands of CDC employees. This move, aimed at reducing government spending, reflects an authoritarian tactic that undermines public health capacity and worker rights, despite the CDC’s ongoing commitment to protecting public safety.

The CDC has hired David Geier, a researcher known for discredited studies linking vaccines to autism, raising concerns over the politicization of public health and the undermining of evidence-based research. Critics argue that this hire may fuel vaccine hesitancy and lend undue credibility to fringe anti-vaccine claims.

In response to a surging measles outbreak in Texas, the CDC has recommended that local health departments consider offering earlier measles vaccinations, including for infants as young as 6 months, to better protect public health.

The CDC faces significant leadership changes as five senior leaders depart amid anticipated cuts that could affect up to a third of its workforce. The changes appear to be influenced by political pressure from the current administration, aiming for a more moderate leadership that is less likely to push back on directives such as altering website content related to controversial vaccine ideas.

The CDC notified the California Department of Public Health that it is suspending grants previously awarded to support the state's infectious-disease response during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a cancellation of roughly $12 billion in funding. This decision raises concerns about disruptions to critical public health infrastructure, especially amid ongoing disease threats.

The CDC is expected to axe over $11 billion in COVID funding following claims that the pandemic is over, a move that aligns with far‐right austerity measures reminiscent of policies during the Trump era. Critics argue that this decision undermines the agency’s public health responsibilities and may erode vital safety nets for vulnerable populations.

The CDC is pulling back $11.4 billion in Covid-related funds from state and community health departments following a directive that echoes Trump-era priorities. This move risks undermining essential public health initiatives, particularly those serving marginalized communities that relied on these resources.

President Trump’s nomination of acting CDC director Susan Monarez for a permanent role signals a politicization of the public health agency and an alignment with authoritarian political influence. This move, which ties the CDC more directly to politically charged leadership, raises concerns among anti-fascists about the erosion of independent public health governance.

In response to proposals by House Republicans and former Trump officials to cut the CDC’s budget and restructure its mission, CDC Director Mandy Cohen expressed concern about the potential impact on public health and evidence-based practices.

During a July 23, 2024 House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing, CDC Center Directors defended the agency’s critical role and budget in public health against calls by Republican lawmakers to defund the CDC, which were framed as responses to alleged overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic. Democratic members argued that adequately funding the CDC is essential to prepare for future health crises.

A former CDC director warned that external political pressures have jeopardized the agency's ability to provide unbiased, science-based public health guidance, emphasizing the critical need to depoliticize public health institutions.

An in‐depth ProPublica investigation reveals how the CDC, a cornerstone of US public health, faltered under intense political interference during the COVID-19 crisis. The agency was forced into revising scientific guidelines on church reopenings, test validations, and border policies, actions that undermined trust in its public health mission and aligned it with authoritarian dictates.