As former U.S. surgeons general, we are gravely concerned by the recent developments surrounding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The firing of the CDC director, the forced departure of key officials, and the appointment of an individual without a medical degree or actual public health experience as the interim head of the CDC represent actions that jeopardize not only the institution's integrity but also the health and well-being of millions of Americans.
The CDC is more than just an agency. It is the cornerstone of public health in America and across the globe ‒ an institution that has saved countless lives, extended life expectancy and earned the trust of the American people through its science-driven approach. The recent turbulence at the CDC threatens to undermine this legacy, and we feel this is not just a bureaucratic or political issue. It's truly a matter of life and death.
Since 1946, the CDC has worked tirelessly to protect public health, drive down mortality rates and improve life expectancy. Its leadership has been critical in controlling infectious diseases like polio, smallpox and HIV; reducing smoking rates; preventing environmental hazards; and implementing widespread vaccination programs.
These efforts have been foundational in extending life expectancy in the United States by more than 30 years during the past century.
In recent decades, the CDC's role has evolved to meet emerging health challenges. Among the most important of its contributions has been its work in tackling maternal and infant mortality, which has remained a significant issue, especially among communities of color.
Through comprehensive surveillance and targeted public health programs, the CDC has worked to identify the root causes of these disparities, improve health care outcomes and save lives.
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In addition, the CDC has been a leader in addressing the opioid epidemic, a public health crisis that has devastated communities across America. Through its data-driven approach, the CDC has not only provided crucial surveillance but also developed evidence-based recommendations to reduce overdose deaths, expand access to treatment and mitigate the broader social impacts of addiction.
These are just a few examples of the CDC's transformative work, but they demonstrate the agency's unparalleled ability to drive public health improvements.
Despite promises by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restore trust in the CDC, the reality is that public trust in the agency has reached unprecedented lows. This is not merely a matter of perception but a concerning trend that threatens the agency's ability to protect Americans.
One of the most alarming signs of this erosion of trust is the dismantling of key advisory bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Recently, members of the ACIP were fired and replaced with individuals who have publicly aligned themselves with highly controversial theories and figures, including those whose anti-vaccine views have been widely discredited.
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The resulting fallout has been swift. Prominent medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have issued statements that contradict current CDC guidance. These organizations, representing America's pediatricians and obstetricians, have openly acknowledged the growing dissonance between their recommendations and those coming from the CDC.
The AAP, for example, recently expressed concerns about the CDC's approach to vaccines, particularly in regard to its recommendations around childhood immunizations, which they feel may not fully address the evolving landscape of vaccine safety and public concerns.
Similarly, ACOG has voiced concerns about the CDC's shifting guidance on the COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in pregnancy. They have raised alarm over how inconsistencies in CDC recommendations have created confusion and hindered the trust of pregnant women and health care providers.
When the very experts who care for our children and mothers are publicly diverging from CDC guidance, it sends a clear message: The CDC's credibility is in jeopardy. And these unprecedented rebukes have happened not prior to but under Secretary Kennedy's watch.
As former surgeons general, we are deeply familiar with the vital relationship between the CDC and the Office of the Surgeon General. The recent disruption at the CDC threatens to destabilize this critical partnership.
The absence of stable, knowledgeable leadership in the CDC puts at risk the agency's ability to provide the scientific foundation upon which the guidance of the surgeon general ‒ and all of HHS ‒ is built. Without a competent and trusted CDC, we cannot hope to address the public health crises of today or tomorrow.
As former surgeons general, we took an oath to protect the health of the American people. This includes speaking out when the public's health is in danger ‒ even when doing so is uncomfortable or politically charged. We see that danger now in the current turmoil at the CDC.
We call on the American people to recognize the stakes. The CDC's work is foundational to our health security, and without a stable, expert-led agency, we are vulnerable.
We call on Congress to utilize its oversight authority to ensure that the CDC is led by someone who has the requisite knowledge, experience and respect for public health to guide the agency effectively through current and future health crises ‒ and that this person isn't subjected to political pressures to veer from the science or violate the law.
This is not the time for political games or unqualified leadership. It is the time to ensure that the CDC remains the trusted, science-driven agency that has protected and improved the health of millions for more than 75 years.
We speak as former surgeons general, but we speak for the health of every American. The health of this nation is at stake, and it is time for Congress to act. Reach out to your representatives today and demand the leadership that our nation's public health system deserves.
Dr. Joycelyn Elders, 15th surgeon general, 1993-94. Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th surgeon general, 2002-06. Dr. Jerome Adams, 20th surgeon general, 2017-21.