Dr. Erica Schwartz Inherits CDC Zombie Programs Following Significant Staffing Cuts Under the Administration
Dr. Erica Schwartz became the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week, inheriting a series of "zombie programs" that remain funded by Congress but lack sufficient staffing. These programs, which include the Office on Smoking and Health and an Alzheimer’s initiative, were left functionally dormant after the administration announced a sweeping reorganization of federal health agencies. Led by then-adviser Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, the administration initiated thousands of layoffs to consolidate programs under a new subagency. While some cuts were reversed, many experts remain on administrative leave. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has prioritized tackling chronic diseases, yet the CDC currently lacks many of the seasoned experts required to coordinate national public health efforts. Democratic lawmakers have criticized the administration for prioritizing politics over health, noting that the lack of staff for statutorily required programs violates the Impoundment Control Act. The administration has yet to fully implement the reorganization, while Dr. Erica Schwartz works to determine how to bring these funded missions back to life.