In recent years, the realm of public health in the United States has become alarmingly entangled with partisan politics, a trend that poses serious risks to the nation’s well-being. Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), highlights in a compelling opinion piece how political interference is undermining critical public health programs, eroding trust in science, and jeopardizing the effectiveness of disease prevention efforts. Frieden calls on states, universities, and Congress to take urgent action to preserve vital health data and restore confidence in public health systems before the next health crisis emerges.
Public health, by its nature, should be a nonpartisan endeavor focused solely on protecting people from preventable illness and injury. When it functions properly, its success is often invisible: clean water flows, air remains breathable, food is safe, and children avoid preventable diseases and accidents. However, under the current administration, many essential CDC programs have been slashed or dismantled. These programs address some of the nation’s most pressing health challenges, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, birth defects, and workplace hazards. Furthermore, initiatives created under previous administrations to combat infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis have been derailed.
Frieden points to troubling leadership disruptions within the CDC itself. The administration-appointed CDC leader was dismissed after less than a month on the job, and a significant number of the agency’s top officials have either been fired or resigned. More than a quarter of CDC staff have left, leaving the agency weakened at a critical time. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has replaced the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee with individuals lacking expertise in vaccines, leading to recommendations that contradict established scientific evidence. This politicization of public health leadership and guidance is poisoning the societal immune system, undermining the very infrastructure designed to protect Americans.
The consequences of these changes are already evident. Vaccination rates for COVID-19 and other life-saving immunizations have declined, leaving more people vulnerable to preventable diseases. Government responses to outbreaks have slowed, and programs that help smokers quit—such as quit-smoking hotlines and anti-smoking campaigns—have been cut back. Less visible but equally dangerous are the terminations of systems that monitor health risks to mothers and infants or track emerging threats. Without timely detection and response, the nation’s ability to contain future outbreaks and health emergencies diminishes, increasing the likelihood of more severe consequences.
To counteract these threats, Frieden argues that scientists, health professionals, community leaders, and informed citizens must unite to safeguard what remains and rebuild a more resilient public health infrastructure. A critical first step is to stop the spread of disinformation, which he identifies as a “disease” in itself. Distrust fueled by misinformation leads to preventable illness and death. Frieden proposes the creation of a real-time “health beacon” system, utilizing artificial intelligence to identify emerging falsehoods and generate evidence-based, nonpartisan responses. These responses, crafted by experts and disseminated through engaging videos and trusted channels, could preemptively debunk myths and counter viral misinformation quickly and effectively.
Vaccines represent a particularly urgent battleground. Misinformation campaigns falsely linking vaccines to autism and promoting unproven “detox” treatments have eroded public trust. Secretary Kennedy’s efforts to make autism compensable under vaccine injury rules risk draining resources from genuine causes and care, while fueling baseless lawsuits. Frieden stresses the importance of scientists, clinicians, and citizens challenging these false claims openly and supporting credible evidence-based sources. Policymakers must be pressured to ground their decisions in facts to restore public confidence in vaccination programs, which are crucial for preventing disease.
While the national government plays a unique and indispensable role in coordinating disease surveillance, funding specialized laboratories, ensuring vaccine safety, managing stockpiles, and supporting health departments across the country, it currently falls short. Frieden calls on Congress to halt unauthorized staff and program cuts and to hold the Department of Health and Human Services accountable for properly managing authorized funds. The federal government’s failure to maintain robust public health infrastructure demands urgent legislative intervention.
In the absence of strong federal leadership, states, cities, and professional societies must rise to the challenge of preserving essential protections. Although these entities cannot fully replace national capacity, they can prevent critical functions from collapsing. For instance, the Northeast Health Collaborative—a coalition of ten states and cities—shares data, laboratory resources, and outbreak expertise to maintain core public health operations and pilot innovative solutions. Similar collaborations are forming in