Interconnection between public well being, the financial system and nationwide safety shouldn’t be ignored
By American Nurses Affiliation
SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The American Nurses Affiliation (ANA), representing the nation’s largest and most trusted phase of the healthcare workforce, expresses critical issues over the abrupt dismissal of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) Director and subsequent resignations of key leaders throughout the CDC.
These developments increase vital questions in regards to the stability and independence of certainly one of our nation’s most significant public well being establishments. Public confidence in federal well being steerage hinges on companies that function free from political interference and grounded solely in science and evidenced-based observe.
At a time when America faces fixed public well being threats, these abrupt modifications don’t additional the general public’s belief in our well being care system and will doubtlessly pose a direct threat to the security and safety of our nation. We’re involved that if a public well being disaster had been to happen at the moment, our nation wouldn’t be positioned to reply successfully.
(PRNewsfoto / American Nurses Enterprise)
“The removing of the CDC Director and resignation of key leaders raises critical questions on our nation’s potential to reply to a public well being disaster if it had been to occur at the moment,” stated ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “There was a variety of change however not a variety of change administration. The quantity of change with out transparency and clear communication is whipsawing to healthcare professionals and the general public at massive. People deserve regular and constant management on the helm of the CDC to safeguard their well being, security, the financial system and nationwide safety.”
Issues are compounded by the abrupt removing of ANA and different liaisons to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). These exclusions undermine transparency and steadiness in coverage discussions.
“A powerful ACIP should be reconstituted to make sure strong and balanced debate. As the most important and most trusted phase of the well being care workforce, nurses perceive that public well being and nationwide safety are interconnected as well being crises can threaten a nation’s stability, financial system and nationwide safety. We noticed this throughout COVID. A powerful CDC is important to safeguarding public well being.”
“Earlier this 12 months, we had been inspired when President Trump and First Girl Melania Trump described nurses as invaluable and issued an announcement on Nationwide Nurses Day extending their wholehearted gratitude and utmost respect to our occupation,” added Mensik Kennedy.
“As nurses, we see the lifesaving influence of public well being protections day by day. We stand able to serve however can’t stay silent as transparency and a scarcity of constant management in these vital companies have the potential to undermine many years of progress in public well being. Guaranteeing stability and integrity inside our public well being infrastructure shouldn’t be elective, it’s crucial for the well being, well-being and safety of our nation.”
ANA respectfully urges the Administration to take instant steps to revive constant, balanced, and secure management on the CDC. This may additionally embrace reinstating ANA and different liaisons to ACIP, and making certain that advisory panels replicate steadiness, transparency, and experience.
In regards to the American Nurses AssociationAs the oldest group representing greater than 5 million registered nurses, the American Nurses Affiliation stands on the forefront of advancing nursing excellence. The affiliation harnesses The Energy of Nurses™ to champion the occupation and drive transformation in healthcare. By legislative and political advocacy, complete instructional providers, and the occupation’s main Code of Ethics and Scope and Requirements, the affiliation empowers nurses throughout each specialty and observe setting. The affiliation is dedicated to making sure wholesome work environments, shaping pioneering insurance policies, and cultivating partnerships that improve each the nursing occupation and the broader healthcare expertise.
