Senators raise alarms over CDC program eliminations and staff firings, including childhood lead and tobacco efforts

Senator Patty Murray and other committee members pressed Secretary Kennedy about the status of several Centers for Disease Control and Prevention programs they said have been dismantled or had staff fired during the HHS reorganization.

Senator Murray noted conflicting accounts about the CDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and said Congress had appropriated funding tied to the program. "You told Senator Baldwin last week that lead poisoning among children was a very significant issue," Murray said, but she added that "Congress has appropriated the funding. And as far we can tell, staff has not yet been hired, and I've seen no statements reversing your decision to eliminate the program." Murray said that the Milwaukee schools were told CDC could not provide assistance after the office responsible for the work lost staff.

Senator Dick Durbin and others also raised the elimination of the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health and reported staff reductions at FDA's tobacco center. Durbin said tobacco remains the "number one cause of preventable death" and urged the department to maintain those programs.

Secretary Kennedy told the committee the department is "continuing to fund the program," said Milwaukee has received laboratory support, and that staff deployments are constrained by a court-issued TRO limiting what he can say about the reorganization. He told the committee he is "very, very happy to talk" with members and that HHS would spend appropriated money when Congress provides it.

Senators asked for immediate documentation on which offices remain staffed, which program functions are operational, and timetables for rehiring or redeploying personnel to restore CDC capacity. The chair said the committee will follow up in writing and expects detailed operational information.