Outgoing CDC Director Urges Continued Funding for Public Health Agency
The outgoing head of the nation’s top public health agency, Dr. Mandy Cohen, has urged the next administration to maintain its focus and funding to keep Americans safe from emerging health threats.
Call to Action
“We need to continue to do our global work at CDC to make sure we are stopping outbreaks at their source,” Dr. Cohen said in an interview with The Associated Press. “We need to keep that funding up. We need to keep the expertise up. We need to keep the diplomacy up.”
New CDC Director Appointed
Dr. Cohen will be leaving office in January after about 18 months in the job. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Dave Weldon, a former Congressman from Florida, to be the agency’s next chief. Dr. Cohen said she hasn’t met Weldon and doesn’t know him.
CDC’s Role and Challenges
The CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. The agency has four political appointees, out of about 13,000 employees. The rest serve no matter who is in the White House, with civil service protections against efforts to fire them for political reasons.
Dr. Cohen said there’s reason to be proud of the agency’s work in recent years, including building partnerships to improve the availability of testing for different infections and monitoring wastewater for signs of disease outbreaks.
Emerging Threats
The CDC is currently facing several looming threats, including the first U.S. case of a new form of mpox and ongoing bird flu cases. Dr. Cohen said there’s no evidence that the bird flu is spreading between people, but it could change tomorrow.
Conclusion
Dr. Cohen’s departure marks a significant transition for the CDC, but her message of continued funding and focus on global work is crucial for maintaining the agency’s ability to protect Americans from emerging health threats. As the agency looks to the future, it is essential to prioritize public health and maintain the expertise and diplomacy that Dr. Cohen has highlighted.
FAQs
Q: What is the CDC’s role in public health?
A: The CDC is the nation’s top public health agency, responsible for protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats.
Q: How much funding does the CDC receive?
A: The CDC has a $9.2 billion core budget.
Q: Who will be the next director of the CDC?
A: President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Dave Weldon, a former Congressman from Florida, to be the agency’s next chief.
Q: What are the emerging health threats facing the CDC?
A: The CDC is currently facing several looming threats, including the first U.S. case of a new form of mpox and ongoing bird flu cases.
Q: What is Dr. Cohen’s plan for her next steps?
A: Dr. Cohen said she doesn’t know what she’ll do next, other than spend time with her family in Raleigh, North Carolina.
