CDC's new director is pressed to do something about its zombie programs

CDC Has Zombie Programs. Congress Funds Them, But Few People Are Left To Work

Programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address Alzheimer's, drowning and rape prevention lack the staff needed to function. Democrats say what's happening is illegal.

CDC's Zombie Programs: Congress Funds $246 Million in Health Initiatives, but Staff Cuts Leave Experts on the Sidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains an Alzheimer’s program on paper. Congress gave it $41 million this year. No one works there. The agency’s Office on Smoking and Health received $246 million. Its team? Gutted. Similar fates hit epilepsy tracking, sickle cell data efforts, tribal overdose prevention and pregnancy risk monitoring. These aren’t forgotten line items. They represent funded mandates now stripped of the scientist…

New CDC director tells staff she is prepared to speak ‘truth to power’

In an all-hands meeting, Schwartz said she wasn’t blind to what her predecessor, Susan Monarez, went through and was clear with RFK Jr. about her approach.

'Often flying blind': Up to $246 million of taxpayer-funded CDC programs are largely unstaffed

The Office on Smoking and Health, the epilepsy program, sickle cell disease data collection operation, the rape prevention unit: all zombies.

The CDC has a new director – now comes the hard part

Amid multiple disease outbreaks and intense political pressures, Director Erica Schwartz will need to defend scientific independence.

Congress funds CDC programs with few people left to do work

NEW YORK — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still has an Alzheimer’s disease program. Congress appropriated $41 million to it this year. There’s just no one staffing it.