The Trump administration has taken unprecedented steps to exert control over the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) flagship medical research publication, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The move marks a decades-long loss of autonomy for the journal, which is considered the “voice of CDC” and a respected source of federal scientific research.
The interference includes dictating what studies to cover and withholding research on the growing bird flu outbreak. The delay has stalled the release of three studies about bird flu, including findings on pet cats infected with bird flu and wastewater testing results. Health officials claim that Trump officials refused repeated requests from career health officials to publish completed research, citing an order from acting CDC Director Susan Monarez.
Instead, researchers were forced to scramble to find alternative studies related to wildfires, which was an unexpected request. The published research focused on exposure to chemicals for firefighters and emergency room visits in Los Angeles during the 2023 wildfires. Multiple health officials feared their jobs due to pressure from the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency task force, headed by Elon Musk.
Experts have expressed concern that this precedent sets a line for further political interference with CDC research and data publication. Previous efforts by Trump-appointed officials were scrutinized during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for independence in scientific publishing. The fate of the bird flu study remains uncertain, leaving researchers and experts without answers on when it will be published.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-officials-influence-cdc-mmwr