Susan Monarez, CDC director, was ousted by the Trump administration after she refused to quit. Nine former CDC directors spanning tenures from 1977 to this year have more than 100 years of collective CDC experience and served under both Republican and Democratic presidents. The former directors warned that the loss of top leaders will hinder the CDC's ability to protect Americans around the clock and emphasized prior reliance on data-driven insights and support for public health workers. The White House emphasized restoring trust through transparent data and rigorous science. The directors cautioned that weakening programs, canceling research, and elevating unscientific officials could damage public health and the scientific talent pipeline.
"The loss of Dr. Monarez and other top leaders will make it far more difficult for C.D.C. to do what it has done for about 80 years, to work around the clock to protect Americans from threats to their lives and health," the directors wrote.
"During our respective C.D.C. tenures, we did not always agree with our leaders, but they never gave us reason to doubt that they would rely on data-driven insights for our protection, or that they would support public health workers," they also wrote.
"Public health is a noble calling," he wrote. "When it is driven by transparent data and rigorous science, it earns public trust and keeps the world safe... We are helping the agency earn back the trust it had squandered."
"This is unacceptable, and it should alarm every American, regardless of political leanings," they wrote.
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