Trump Administration requires additional cuts in CDC
In addition to extensive reductions for the employees of the centers for the control and prevention of diseases, the Trump government asked the agency to reduce 2.9 billion US dollars of their expenditure on contracts, according to three federal officials, with knowledge of the matter.
The administration’s cost -session, which described the efficiency of the Ministry of Government, asked the public health authority to separate around 35 percent of the contracts for contracts about two weeks ago. According to the officials, the CDC was registered until April 18.
The cuts promise an agency that has almost a fifth of its workers from the loss of 2,400 employees.
On Tuesday, the administration dismissed CDC scientists, who focused on environmental health and asthma, injuries, violence prevention, lead poisoning, smoking and climate change.
The reduction of the contracts is “a strategic initiative” in all departments of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, “with the aim of reducing unnecessary expenses, saving taxpayers and optimizing the operations,” said Emily Hilliard, the deputy press spokeswoman for the department, in a statement given by e -mail.
“Every agency within HHS is committed to reducing the contract expenditure through this goal,” she said. “These cuts are intended to ensure that every dollar is used more efficiently and that our core mission to improve public health and services continues to focus.”
Abrupt 35 percent of the contracts would be difficult for every organization or company, said Tom Inglesby, director of the John Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, who advised the administration of bids during the Covid.
“Sure, every manager can find small savings and improvements, but this type of requirements have the size and speed that organizations are reduced,” he said. “This is not the way to do the public or for the health of the public.”
The largest contract of the CDC, about 7 billion US dollars a year, goes to the program for vaccines for children that buys vaccines for parents who may not afford.
This program is required by law and will not be affected by the cuts, according to a high -ranking civil servant who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
However, the other CDC contracts include expenses for computers and other technology, security officers, cleaning services and facility management. The agency also commits people to create and maintain data systems and wait for certain research projects.
In recent years, contracts have also supported activities related to COVID-19, an official said.
Irrespective of this, HHS did CDC grants of around 11.4 billion US dollars for states last week that used the funds to pursue infectious diseases and to support mental health services, addiction treatment and other urgent health problems.
At least some of the contracts must not be implemented because the people who monitor them have been rejected.
The administration recently asked the CDC to reduce grants to Columbia University and University of Pennsylvania, and said that these institutions had not taken any measures against anti -Semitism on campus.
“Financing grants and contracts are the mechanism with which we do things,” said a CDC scientist who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation.
“They cut off our arms and legs.”
