Congress has appropriated significant funding for several Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) programs, but many of those programs lack the staff needed to operate. The funding includes $41 million for an Alzheimer’s disease initiative, $246 million for the Office on Smoking and Health, and smaller allocations for epilepsy, sickle‑cell disease data collection, and other public‑health efforts.
Staffing gaps trace back to 2025 layoffs
In April 2025, the Trump administration issued layoff notices to thousands of employees at the CDC and other federal health agencies as part of a broader reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services. The cuts affected researchers, doctors, and senior leaders, leaving many programs without the experts who previously guided national health policy.
Although some cuts were later reversed, many staff members remain on administrative leave—paid but prohibited from performing their duties. This has left the CDC with “zombie programs” that exist on paper and in the budget but are functionally inactive.
New director inherits the challenge
Dr. Erica Schwartz, confirmed as CDC director last week, inherited these staffing shortfalls. During her confirmation hearing, Sen. Tim Kaine (D‑VA) asked whether she would ensure that congressionally funded programs are carried out. “I will always follow the law,” Dr. Schwartz replied.
Senators Tammy Baldwin (D‑WI) and Jon Ossoff (D‑GA) have also expressed concern that the agency is not meeting its statutory obligations, citing the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which requires agencies to use appropriated funds as directed by Congress.
Impact on public‑health work
Experts say the lack of staff hampers the CDC’s ability to monitor health trends, evaluate grant effectiveness, and coordinate nationwide responses to chronic diseases and other threats. Without seasoned scientists and program managers, the agency’s capacity to provide guidance on issues such as Alzheimer’s risk factors, smoking cessation campaigns, and overdose prevention in tribal communities is severely limited.
Advocacy groups, including the Coalition for Health Funding and UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, note that while much of the CDC’s budget still flows to state and local partners, the central coordination and research functions are weakened.
Congressional response and future hiring plans
The latest appropriations bill, passed in January, requires the Department of Health and Human Services to maintain staff for statutory programs, though it does not specify exact staffing levels. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has pledged to hire 12,000 workers for federal health agencies, primarily to address chronic disease programs, but it remains unclear how many have been added to the CDC.
Union representatives say hiring has been slow and that many laid‑off workers remain on leave without a clear path back to their positions.
What comes next
Stakeholders will watch closely to see whether Dr. Schwartz can secure the personnel needed to activate the funded programs. Congressional committees have indicated they will monitor compliance with staffing requirements, and further legislative action may be taken if the CDC fails to meet its obligations.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
