The recent deep cuts at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have led to significant changes in global programs, with a 25% reduction in staff and a 35% decrease in contracts ordered by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as part of an effort to "reduce bureaucratic sprawl." One of the most affected areas is the Maternal and Child Health Branch, which has been shut down entirely, resulting in the termination of all 22 staff members who worked on ensuring that mothers and children at risk of or infected by HIV receive treatment. This move will undoubtedly have a significant impact on global health efforts, particularly for those countries relying on CDC support to combat HIV/AIDS.
The Global Health Center within the CDC is also facing changes as part of this restructuring process. The director of the center, Kayla Laserson, was transferred along with several other directors to the Indian Health Service, leaving the Global Health Center in the hands of deputies. While two divisions within the Global Health Center remain unaffected - global immunization and global health protection – the third division, Global HIV and TB, has been hit hard by these cuts, with seven out of 15 branches being eliminated entirely, resulting in the termination of all staff and leadership positions.
These changes at the CDC may have far-reaching consequences for global public health initiatives, particularly those focused on combating infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and polio. It remains to be seen how these cuts will impact ongoing efforts to control and prevent these diseases worldwide, but it is clear that the CDC's reduced capacity could hinder progress in global health programs moving forward.
[Original Article](https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/04/04/g-s1-57788/centers-for-disease-control-global-health-hiv-maternal-health) #will [Visit GhostAI](https://ghostai.pro/)
[Join our Discord](https://discord.com/invite/zgKZUJ6V8z)