- Dr. Debra Houry, the CDC ’s former chief medical officer, stated that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has caused "irreparable harm" since taking office, leading to a dramatic decrease in public trust in health agencies.
- Houry resigned from the CDC in August 2025, along with several other leaders, citing concerns about Kennedy’s leadership, particularly his vaccine policies and the "overstating of risks" of vaccines.
- She explained her departure was due to her inability to "protect the scientific integrity of the agency" and her concerns about the negative impact on the American public, including a rise in measles and whooping cough deaths.
- A survey conducted between March and April by Harvard and the de Beaumont Foundation revealed that only 50 percent of U.S. adults trust CDC recommendations, a significant drop from 77 percent in spring 2025.
- Houry criticized the administration for not wanting to "follow data or science," asserting that their approach has put many lives at risk and contributed to the erosion of trust in the CDC.
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