The Relentless School Nurse: Celebrating National Public Health Week With a Rallying Cry To Save Our Nation’s Health!

More than 100 public health leaders, including former U.S. Secretaries of Health and Human Services, CDC directors, and a former Surgeon General, have issued an urgent open letter to Congress condemning the Trump administration’s sweeping efforts to dismantle the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This call to action coincides with the start of National Public Health Week (April 7–13, 2025), a celebration of public health achievements and, this year, a rallying cry against the tyranny of the Trump administration’s policies.

Key Issues Raised

The letter, organized by For Our Health, responds to drastic measures announced by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which include:

• Eliminating 10,000 full-time public health positions across HHS agencies.
• Restructuring core CDC functions and transferring responsibilities to a newly created “Administration for a Healthy America” (AHA).
• Cutting $2.9 billion in contract expenditures at the CDC.

These changes have already resulted in the dismissal of 2,400 CDC employees, including top leadership, eliminating programs addressing chronic diseases, environmental health, HIV prevention, and vaccine access. These actions undermine public health infrastructure at a time when crises like measles outbreaks and declining vaccination rates demand robust federal support.

Impact on Vulnerable Communities

We know that these cuts will disproportionately harm vulnerable populations, including low-income communities, racial minorities, and rural Americans. The erosion of public health services will undoubtedly exacerbate existing health disparities and limit the nation’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies.

Congressional Oversight Demanded

The letter calls on Congress to:

• Hold immediate oversight hearings on HHS restructuring, which is happening on April 10th!
• Reinstate funding for state, local, and tribal public health programs.
• Strengthen vaccination efforts to combat misinformation.
• Protect evidence-based programs addressing chronic diseases and environmental threats.

Dr. Mary Pittman of For Our Health emphasized the urgency of protecting public health from political interference:

This is a moment of profound danger for public health.

National Public Health Week: A Time for Resistance

As National Public Health Week begins with the theme “It Starts Here”, public health professionals are using this milestone to highlight the importance of resisting policies that threaten public health progress. Over its 30-year history, this week has celebrated achievements like expanded health insurance coverage and vaccine development while fostering advocacy for equitable health policies. This year’s observance doubles as a platform for resistance against actions that jeopardize decades of progress.

The Senate Committee on Health is scheduled to hold hearings on April 10 to scrutinize these controversial changes. Hopefully, this will be a turning point in safeguarding public health from further harm.