Trump shuts down the CDC's infection control committee
The Trump Administration continues it's chainsaw approach to cutting the Federal workforce, with the CDC becoming it's latest victim amid a national bird flu crisis
This comes at a time when the nation is juggling multiple public health concerns. The ongoing presence of bird flu continues to raise alarms in both agricultural and health sectors, while a resurgence of measles has prompted renewed focus on vaccination efforts.
President Donald Trump’s administration fired a federal advisory committee that guides the agency on how to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare facilities.
According to reporting from NBC News:
The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) crafted national standards for hand-washing, mask-wearing and isolating sick patients that most U.S. hospitals follow.
Four committee members said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention delivered the news about HICPAC’s termination to members Friday.
A letter reviewed by NBC News — which members said the CDC sent out after a virtual meeting — says the termination took effect more than a month previously, on March 31. According to the letter, the termination aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive ordercalling for a reduction of the federal workforce.
Four professional societies previously asked Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a letter on March 26 to preserve the committee amid widespread cuts to federal health agencies. The CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
This comes at a time when the nation is juggling multiple public health concerns. The ongoing presence of bird flu continues to raise alarms in both agricultural and health sectors, while a resurgence of measles has prompted renewed focus on vaccination efforts. Meanwhile, COVID-19 still lingers in the background—although current transmission rates appear to be relatively low, public health experts remain cautious as new variants could emerge.