US CDC Faces Leadership Crisis, WHO Urges Protection Amid Resignations

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is facing a significant crisis marked by leadership turmoil and organizational disruption, raising concerns about its ability to protect public health. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has openly criticized CDC responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and recently fired CDC Director Susan Monarez, prompting multiple resignations among senior leaders and calls from some senators for Kennedy's resignation. This upheaval follows sweeping workforce cuts and communication restrictions implemented soon after President Donald Trump took office in 2025, which experts believe have weakened the CDC's capacity to handle emerging health threats. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene have expressed deep concern about these developments, emphasizing the CDC's global leadership role and the importance of safeguarding its work. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus highlighted the CDC's influence on international public health institutions and called for the protection of its public health excellence despite acknowledging the need for ongoing improvements. Overall, the instability at the CDC threatens not only American health security but also the agency's standing as a global model for disease prevention and outbreak response.