The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is facing significant operational challenges, particularly with several programs lacking adequate staffing despite congressional appropriations. For instance, a $41 million allocation for its Alzheimer’s disease program remains underutilized due to staffing shortages, reports BritPanorama.
Similar issues plague the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, which received $246 million this year but has also experienced staff reductions. Other vital initiatives, including programs aimed at tracking epilepsy, collecting data on sickle cell disease, and efforts related to sexual assault prevention, are similarly affected.
These programs are being referred to as the CDC’s “zombie programs” — funded yet effectively dormant due to a lack of personnel. This stems from layoffs initiated during the Trump administration, aimed at restructuring the Department of Health and Human Services. Many experts who previously drove public health initiatives were either laid off or remain on administrative leave.
Dr. Erica Schwartz, the CDC’s new director, inherits these challenges as she begins her tenure. During her confirmation hearing, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine emphasized the need to revive the smoking office’s essential functions, asserting the statutory obligations linked to appropriated funds.
Schwartz affirmed her commitment to following the law, stating, “I will always follow the law.” This sentiment underscores the pressure she now faces to reactivate dormant CDC programs amid congressional scrutiny.
Trump officials turned some CDC programs into the living dead
Decisions leading to the defunding and freezing of essential programs were made by political appointees. In April 2025, the Trump administration issued layoff notices to thousands of CDC employees, citing a need to consolidate operations under a new subagency, the Administration for a Healthy America. This contentious reorganization has not yet materialized, largely due to pushback from Congress.
The layoffs were spearheaded by then-adviser Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, resulting in the loss of key personnel essential for U.S. medical research and public health decisions. While certain layoffs have been reversed, a significant number of critical positions remain unfilled, complicating the CDC’s operations.
Current and former CDC employees are compiling lists of underfunded and understaffed programs affected by these changes. These range from initiatives on preventing drug overdoses in tribal communities to comprehensive data collection efforts on maternal health.
A union is keeping track of the zombie programs
In January, Congress passed an appropriations bill mandating the maintenance of staffing levels necessary for specific program work. However, this law lacks clarity regarding how many staff are needed for each program, leading to ongoing concerns about unmet public health responsibilities.
Despite a backdrop of proposed staffing increases, there remains uncertainty surrounding the actual hiring capacity at the CDC. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged to increase the workforce but has not provided updates on progress related to filling vacancies.
Schwartz’s initiation in her role has been met with scrutiny regarding her commitment to fund and staff these essential programs as intended by Congress. Lawmakers are poised to observe her actions closely as a barometer for adherence to statutory obligations.
As the CDC navigates these operational hurdles, the importance of fully staffing public health initiatives cannot be overstated. It remains to be seen how the agency will reconcile these challenges and restore the expert workforce necessary for effective health responses. The issue underscores ongoing tensions between legislative mandates and executive capabilities within the public health infrastructure.
