The Consequences of Silencing the “Voice of CDC"

This perspective discusses the implications of the Trump administration's temporary suspension of public communications by U.S. health agencies, including the CDC. The pause disrupted the release of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), a key CDC publication providing timely public health data. The authors, including former MMWR editors, argue that such actions politicize scientific communication and jeopardize public trust, disease response, and health outcomes. They emphasize that suppressing data during ongoing health threats—such as H5N1, tuberculosis, and potential Ebola outbreaks undermines public health preparedness and transparency.

This perspective discusses the implications of the Trump administration's temporary suspension of public communications by U.S. health agencies, including the CDC. The pause disrupted the release of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), a key CDC publication providing timely public health data. The authors, including former MMWR editors, argue that such actions politicize scientific communication and jeopardize public trust, disease response, and health outcomes. They emphasize that suppressing data during ongoing health threats—such as H5N1, tuberculosis, and potential Ebola outbreaks undermines public health preparedness and transparency.