Former CDC Director Warns of Disaster: "A Systemic Failure" at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Disaster at the CDC: A Former Director's Warning As I stepped into Dr. Tom Frieden's office, a sense of déjà vu washed over me. The same walls, the same desk, and the same determined gaze that had once led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through some of its most critical moments now seemed to hold a hint of despair. We were here to talk about the CDC's catastrophic loss of staff – one-third gone in just a year – but as we sat down, Frieden's eyes wandered back to a photo on his desk: a proud moment from his time at the helm. "It's not just numbers," he said, his voice low and measured. "It's people. It's families. It's communities." Frieden knows the CDC like few others. As its director during the Obama administration, he navigated some of the agency's most pressing challenges: from Ebola outbreaks to vaccine hesitancy. Now, as president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, a global health organization, Frieden has watched with growing concern as the CDC's capacity dwindles. "The CDC tracks what happens in people and supports comprehensive action in communities," he explained, echoing his own words from years past. "That's all gone." The numbers are staggering: over 1,000 staff members have left the CDC since January, many due to layoffs or retirements triggered by the ongoing government shutdown. The agency's workforce has shrunk by nearly a third, leaving gaping holes in its ability to monitor and respond to emerging health threats. "It's not just about the numbers," Frieden emphasized. "It's about what those people do every day. They're the ones who track outbreaks, develop vaccines, and provide critical guidance to states and local governments." The consequences of this gutting will be far-reaching and unpredictable, experts warn. Public health trends are measured in decades, not months, so it may take years for the full impact to become clear. But Frieden's warning is urgent: "We're losing our capacity to respond to emergencies, to track diseases, and to provide trusted information to the public." As we spoke, I couldn't help but think of the CDC's role in some of America's most pivotal moments – from containing smallpox outbreaks to leading the charge against HIV/AIDS. The agency has long been a beacon of hope and expertise, its scientists and experts working tirelessly behind the scenes to protect public health. Now, as states begin forming their own public health alliances in direct opposition to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s changes, Frieden's words take on an added sense of urgency: "We're not just losing a government agency; we're losing our capacity for collective action." The CDC's troubles are part of a broader trend: a growing distrust in institutions and a shift towards decentralized, state-led public health initiatives. While some argue that this is a necessary response to the failures of centralized authority, others see it as a recipe for disaster. "It's not about trusting government or not," Frieden said firmly. "It's about trusting science and evidence-based decision-making." As our conversation drew to a close, I asked Frieden what he hoped readers would take away from this story. His eyes locked onto mine, filled with a mix of sadness and determination. "We need to understand that public health is not just about numbers or policies; it's about people," he said. "It's about the families who lose loved ones to preventable diseases, the communities ravaged by outbreaks, and the scientists working tirelessly behind the scenes." Frieden's words hung in the air as I left his office, a stark reminder of the stakes: not just for the CDC, but for all of us. *Based on reporting by Vox.*