NEW YORK — As she prepares to leave her position, the head of the top public health agency in the United States is urging the incoming administration to remain vigilant and continue its funding efforts to protect citizens from emerging health risks.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), emphasized the importance of the agency’s global work during a recent interview. “We need to ensure that we stop outbreaks at their origins,” she stated, advocating for sustained financial support, expert personnel, and effective diplomacy.
Cohen, who has held the position for approximately 18 months, is set to depart in January. President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Dave Weldon, a former Congressman from Florida, as her successor.
Cohen mentioned that she has not yet met Weldon and is unfamiliar with him. She previously expressed concerns regarding Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal opponent of vaccines who has been nominated to oversee federal public health agencies.
The CDC, operating with a core budget of $9.2 billion, is dedicated to safeguarding public health and controlling disease outbreaks. The majority of its workforce are scientists, with about 60% holding advanced degrees.
The past eight years have posed significant challenges for the CDC, which once had a stellar international reputation in infectious disease expertise. Confidence in the agency waned due to its handling of the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside political criticism and public resistance to health measures such as mask mandates and vaccinations.
Within the CDC, only four individuals hold political appointments, while the vast majority of its roughly 13,000 employees are protected by civil service regulations, making it difficult to terminate them for political reasons regardless of the administration in office.
Trump has proposed converting many federal agency roles into political appointments, which would allow incoming officials to appoint and dismiss employees at will. There’s also discussion about splitting the CDC into two entities: one focused solely on tracking disease data, and another dedicated to public health but with limited policy-making capabilities.
In addition, a congressional budget proposal seeks to reduce the CDC’s funding by 22%, including the potential elimination of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which addresses issues such as drownings, drug overdoses, suicides, and gun violence.
Cohen highlighted the agency’s accomplishments over recent years, including establishing partnerships for enhanced testing capabilities and monitoring for disease signs through wastewater analysis. She acknowledged there are always emerging health threats but noted that there haven’t been any new, significant public health emergencies currently.
Following the November 5 election, Cohen reached out via email to CDC staff, encouraging them to persevere. “Even with forthcoming changes, our mission remains unchanged,” she noted.
In terms of the agency’s morale, Cohen stated she hasn’t witnessed a significant exodus of CDC scientists post-election results, explaining, “Getting elected is different than governing. My goal is to ensure a smooth transition.”
Cohen has not determined her next steps aside from spending quality time with her family in Raleigh, North Carolina, where they have lived during her tenure.
In a first for the CDC, the next director will need Senate confirmation, which could result in a transition gap until the new appointee takes over. Meanwhile, CDC Deputy Director Dr. Debra Houry will oversee the handover process.
Amid government transitions, the CDC faces several pressing public health challenges. Recently, health officials confirmed the first U.S. case of a new variant of mpox originally identified in Congo.
Furthermore, the CDC is monitoring ongoing cases of a strain of bird flu, which have mostly been mild among farmworkers who interacted with infected animals. CDC representatives have indicated that they currently perceive a low risk to the general public, with no evidence of human-to-human transmission detected.
“We aren’t at a turning point yet, but it could shift rapidly,” Cohen added, stressing the ever-evolving landscape of public health challenges.
