Former CDC leaders warn public health system is 'raging fire' under health secretary

By Vanessa Romo

Published September 2, 2025 at 2:02 AM PDT

After the Trump administration fired its CDC director, former heads of the agency signed a public letter urging Congress to use its oversight powers at the Department of Health and Human Services.

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Vanessa Romo

Vanessa Romo is a reporter for NPR's News Desk. She covers breaking news on a wide range of topics, weighing in daily on everything from immigration and the treatment of migrant children, to a war-crimes trial where a witness claimed he was the actual killer, to an alleged sex cult. She has also covered the occasional cat-clinging-to-the-hood-of-a-car story.

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