Statement on April 1 HHS Job Cuts

We cannot do the complex and serious work of protecting Americans from infectious diseases amid this chaos and confusion. The profound loss of the critical expertise at the Department of Health and Human Services, our nation’s highest office responsible for the health of the American public, will make our country significantly less safe from both chronic and infectious diseases.  

The elimination of large swaths of highly trained and dedicated employees at HHS and throughout the agencies it oversees, including the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and other offices responsible for protecting America’s health, is counter to the goal of keeping America healthy.

We call on Congress to conduct appropriate oversight to promote public understanding of these changes and the significant negative impact they will cause. We must ensure that critical functions necessary to promote Americans’ health, national security and prosperity are firmly maintained.

— Tina Tan, MD, FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAP — President, IDSA

About IDSA
The Infectious Diseases Society of America is a community of more than 13,000 physicians, scientists and public health experts who specialize in infectious diseases. Its purpose is to improve the health of individuals, communities and society by promoting excellence in patient care, education, research, public health and prevention relating to infectious diseases. Learn more at idsociety.org.