CDC's new director is pressed to do something about its zombie programs
Lawmakers say fully funded CDC programs remain unstaffed after layoffs, leaving offices on smoking, epilepsy and overdose prevention inactive.
- Last week, Dr. Erica Schwartz became director of The Atlanta-based CDC, inheriting numerous funded but unstaffed "zombie programs" and immediate congressional pressure to revive them.
- The Trump administration's April 2025 layoffs left these projects functionally dead, as experts were either fired or placed on indefinite leave despite ongoing congressional funding.
- Congress appropriated $246 million for the Office on Smoking and Health and $41 million for an Alzheimer initiative, yet these projects remain without staff to operate them.
- Democrats argue the freeze violates the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, but Republicans control the House and Senate, limiting appetite to challenge the administration.
- During her confirmation hearing, Sen. Tim Kaine pressed Schwartz to restart dormant activities, while an HHS spokesperson stated she remains focused on supporting the current workforce.
139 Articles
139 Articles
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…
The Conversation
The CDC has a new director – now comes the hard part
After nearly a year-long gap, the CDC again has a permanent director. James Gathany, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via Wikimedia CommonsThe new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Erica Schwartz, confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Aug. 5, 2026, is only the second CDC director to face Senate confirmation. Congress adopted the process for the agency after the COVID-19 pandemic to bring more scrutiny to one of the …
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