Former CDC Official: U.S. Vulnerable to Outbreaks Due to Shutdown and Misinformation

The federal government shutdown has entered its third week, casting a deepening shadow over several critical agencies, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finding itself particularly hamstrung during what would normally be a period of heightened vigilance.

The shutdown comes at a precarious time for public health monitoring, as fall and winter typically bring increased respiratory illness circulation, including seasonal influenza, COVID-19 variants, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These conditions collectively strain healthcare systems annually and require consistent surveillance and response coordination.

Two former high-ranking CDC officials recently shared insights about the extensive disruption caused by the ongoing funding lapse. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who previously served as director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, and Dr. Debra Houry, the agency’s former chief medical officer, described a concerning scenario where essential public health functions face significant operational constraints.

“The timing couldn’t be worse from an infectious disease standpoint,” Dr. Daskalakis explained. “We’re entering respiratory virus season when the CDC’s surveillance systems are most critical for tracking outbreaks and guiding healthcare response nationwide.”

The shutdown has forced the CDC to furlough a substantial portion of its workforce, leaving only essential personnel to maintain the most critical operations. This reduction comes as the Trump administration’s proposed mass layoff policy for federal workers looms over the agency, threatening to compound existing staffing challenges with more permanent reductions.

Dr. Houry highlighted specific concerns about disruptions to disease surveillance networks. “When we reduce staffing at CDC laboratories and epidemiological centers, we diminish our ability to detect emerging threats quickly. This isn’t just about counting cases—it’s about identifying potential outbreaks before they become widespread.”

The CDC’s role extends beyond monitoring infectious diseases. The agency also oversees critical programs addressing chronic conditions, environmental health hazards, and injury prevention—all of which face operational constraints during the shutdown.

Public health experts warn that the effects of the shutdown may not be immediately visible but could have lasting consequences. Interrupted research projects, delayed data collection, and postponed public health campaigns can create gaps in protection that may take months or even years to address fully.

“The public health system is like a complex machine with many moving parts,” Dr. Daskalakis noted. “When funding stops abruptly, restarting all those components in sync becomes incredibly challenging.”

The situation at the CDC reflects broader challenges across the federal government’s health apparatus. The National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and other health agencies are similarly operating with reduced capacity, creating a multifaceted crisis in the nation’s health security infrastructure.

State and local health departments, which rely heavily on CDC guidance and support, report increasing difficulty maintaining coordinated response capabilities as the shutdown continues. Many local jurisdictions lack resources to independently sustain the specialized disease monitoring that the CDC typically provides.

Healthcare systems across the country are preparing for potential ripple effects if the shutdown extends further into respiratory illness season. Hospital administrators express particular concern about delayed reporting of disease trends that help them allocate resources effectively during peak illness periods.

“When we don’t have current, accurate data on what viruses are circulating and where outbreaks are occurring, hospitals can’t prepare properly,” a spokesperson for the American Hospital Association stated. “This creates unnecessary strain on emergency departments and intensive care units.”

As negotiations to end the shutdown continue in Washington, public health advocates emphasize that each day of continued disruption increases the likelihood of preventable health consequences. They point to previous government shutdowns, which resulted in suspended food safety inspections, delayed disease outbreak investigations, and interrupted vaccination programs.

The situation remains fluid, with health officials working to maintain essential services while operating under significant constraints. Both former CDC leaders stressed that restoring full funding quickly is crucial to minimizing long-term impacts on the nation’s health security infrastructure.