Bloomberg Businessweek CDC’s Total Overhaul Takes Shape
Sep 15, 2025
Dr. Richard E. Besser, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting director of the CDC, discusses the turmoil at the CDC amid leadership changes. He highlights how layoffs have impacted chronic disease research and warns about the erosion of public trust due to budget cuts. Besser emphasizes the dangers of politicization in vaccine policy, particularly the disbanding of the CDC's vaccine committee. The conversation delves into the implications of varying state vaccine policies on national health efforts and community responses.
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Social Drivers Trump Medical Care
- Health is driven more by income, nutrition, and social factors than by clinical care alone.
- Millions lack access to high-quality care because coverage depends on employment and income.
Recent Turmoil At The CDC
- Jessica Nix described mass layoffs and restructured vaccine panels after RFK Jr. took over HHS.
- The CDC director was fired weeks into her tenure and a shooting occurred at the agency.
CDC's Global Role Is At Risk
- The CDC has long been a global public health beacon and must be evaluated, not dismantled.
- Haphazard cuts and firings risk destroying institutional capacity and global trust.