#public-health
6 entries with this tag
RFK Jr. Dismantles Vaccine System; Measles Surges to 30-Year High
Health Secretary RFK Jr. fired all 17 CDC vaccine advisors and gutted the childhood vaccine schedule. Measles cases hit 2,281 in 2025 — the most in 30+ years — with the first measles deaths in a decade.
Withdrew from the World Health Organization
Trump withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization during an era of pandemic threats, abandoning global disease surveillance infrastructure. No other country followed suit. The U.S. had provided 22% of WHO's mandatory contributions.
"Slow the Testing Down, Please"
Trump told his Tulsa rally crowd he ordered officials to slow COVID testing because finding more cases made the U.S. "look bad." The White House said he was joking. Trump told reporters two days later: "I don't kid."
"Inject Disinfectant" COVID Suggestion
During a live COVID-19 briefing, Trump suggested injecting disinfectant and using UV light inside the body as potential treatments, prompting poison control centers to issue emergency warnings.
COVID-19 Pandemic Mismanagement
Trump downplayed COVID-19 for months, promoted unproven treatments, suppressed scientific data, and mocked mask-wearing. Over 400,000 Americans died on his watch — researchers estimate 130,000-210,000 deaths were avoidable.
Disbanded NSC Pandemic Preparedness Team
The Trump administration disbanded the NSC unit specifically created to prepare for pandemics. The team's absence significantly slowed the COVID-19 response. A 69-page pandemic playbook left by the Obama team went unused.