The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is set for a significant restructuring, as announced today by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The plan involves cutting thousands of positions that contribute to safeguarding public health.
In light of this announcement, Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association, expressed his concerns about the potential impacts of these reductions. Wimmer emphasized the importance of a robust public health infrastructure to support the organization's mission of improving lung health and preventing lung disease.
"The American Lung Association’s mission is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease—and we rely on a strong public health infrastructure to help make that possible," stated Wimmer. He highlighted the ongoing challenges the nation faces with chronic lung diseases like asthma, COPD, and lung cancer.
Wimmer elaborated on the risks posed by eliminating numerous public health positions, stating it would hinder efforts to prevent both chronic and infectious diseases. Additionally, it could disrupt the availability of timely health data and resources. Wimmer noted that these proposed changes, in conjunction with other recent cuts in public health and environmental agencies, could impede progress in health outcomes and increase community vulnerabilities.
He concluded with an appeal to lawmakers: "We urge Congress to ensure that any changes to public health agencies support the health of everyone in this nation."
