Senators Say CDC Staffing Cuts Disrupted Lead‑Poisoning Response, Grants and Other Programs; Nominee Promises Review
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Summary
Multiple senators pressed Dr. Menares about program disruptions following staff reductions at CDC, including the childhood lead poisoning prevention branch, the World Trade Center Health Program and grant awards for Alzheimer’s public‑health grants; the nominee said she would examine staffing and program continuity if confirmed.
Several senators told the committee that recent staffing changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had immediate operational consequences and asked the nominee to review program continuity if she becomes director.
Senator Tammy Baldwin described the firing of the staff at the childhood lead poisoning prevention branch and said Milwaukee was left unable to obtain CDC assistance after schools required remediation and 1,800 children were displaced. Baldwin said she had been told employees were being rehired but asked whether the nominee would ensure adequate staffing and reevaluate Milwaukee's request for assistance. Dr. Menares replied, "I will look at the staffing and I will ensure that these public health priorities have the capacity necessary to deliver the critical services to the American people." (exchange began at Senator Baldwin's questioning at the committee hearing.)
Other senators raised related examples. Senator Kim asked about the World Trade Center Health Program, noting staff cuts earlier in the year and asking whether the nominee had been aware that those programs would suffer; Dr. Menares said she "was not involved in that decision making, and I am not aware of what has happened," and offered to follow up.
Senator Susan Collins and others raised concerns that staff reductions had delayed grant awards tied to the BOLD Act (Alzheimer's public‑health grants), asking the nominee to commit to getting out awards on time; Dr. Menares said she would look into workforce and staffing issues and follow up on impediments to awarding grants if confirmed.
Senator Kaine pressed the nominee on the reported elimination of the CDC Office on Smoking and Health and the firing of staff and contractors. Dr. Menares said she was not aware of those specific layoffs and reiterated she had not participated in personnel decisions after departing the acting role; she said the secretary had given guidance to refocus CDC’s activities on preventing, detecting and responding to infectious diseases and emerging threats.
Taken together, senators provided several numeric details in questioning: Senator Sanders referenced a committee report that cited responses from more than 750 health‑care providers; Baldwin cited "1,800 young school children" displaced in Milwaukee; and senators noted staffing numbers such as "400 plus CDC employees" referenced as being rehired. Dr. Menares offered to review staffing and program specifics and to follow up directly with members of the committee if confirmed.