The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued health alerts much less frequently since the Trump administration took office, raising concerns among medical professionals and public health authorities. In 2025, the CDC reportedly issued only six alerts from its Health Alert Network (HAN), a significant decrease compared to typical years where dozens are common.
Reduced Alerts Impact Public Health Preparedness
The reduction in these critical alerts has left healthcare providers without crucial information regarding emergent health risks. Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, expressed significant concern over this trend.
"The reduction in alerts leaves healthcare providers without crucial information regarding health risks."
Lauren Sauer, associate director of the Global Center for Health Security at the University of Nebraska, further emphasized the importance of HANs. She noted that they serve as an vital tool for clinicians to identify diseases they might not anticipate seeing. Historically, HANs have been instrumental in informing about threats such as Ebola, bird flu, and the coronavirus pandemic. They have also prompted hospitals to prepare with necessary supplies and staffing, and enabled health departments to effectively monitor for disease clusters.
Key Threats Go Unalerted
Recent health challenges have reportedly not been accompanied by CDC HANs. These include this season's flu with a mutated strain, a significant measles outbreak in South Carolina, and various whooping cough outbreaks. The measles outbreak is particularly concerning, as it raises fears about the nation potentially losing its measles elimination status.
Criticisms and Official Responses
Critics, including Dr. Benjamin, suggest that the decrease in HANs is indicative of broader restrictions on CDC communications. They point to several other changes, such as fewer reports in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a canceled flu vaccination campaign, paused updates to critical databases, and reduced engagement with reporters.
Dr. Debra Houry, who resigned as the CDC's chief medical officer in August, indicated that the agency has experienced staff reductions and increased influence from political appointees rather than scientists.
In response, Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the Health and Human Services Department (HHS), which oversees the CDC, refuted claims of the agency pulling back. He stated that the CDC continues to alert the public about urgent incidents and collaborates with various partners on response protocols. Despite this official stance, outside organizations are reportedly working to address the perceived gap in health information.