10/20/2025
"The Trump administration’s new global health strategy, released last month, lists its most important goal as outbreak prevention and response, both to protect Americans and to safeguard the economy.
Yet, the freeze on America’s foreign aid in January disrupted many programs that extinguished outbreaks. Citing “waste, fraud and abuse” at federal agencies, the administration also laid off thousands of scientists, including many who worked on preventing and containing infectious diseases.
Since the spring, the administration has restored some programs and rehired some scientists. And on Saturday, it rescinded the layoffs of hundreds of infectious disease experts fired in error just a day earlier.
But many others placed on administrative leave are still awaiting word on their next career steps.
The Department of Health and Human Services “has preserved the expertise necessary for pandemic preparedness, and our agency remains committed to infectious disease research, surveillance and response,” a spokesman said.
“We continue to support this critical public health priority through ongoing monitoring, vaccine development and partnerships at home and abroad,” he added.
But some experts worry that the loss of this particular kind of expertise leaves Americans vulnerable to new pandemic threats. “The diseases aren’t going away,” said Dr. Lorin Warnick, dean of Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “The risks are even higher now.”
We spoke with four well-regarded infectious disease scientists about their work, their lives now and the state of the nation’s pandemic preparedness."
Hundreds of infectious disease specialists have been let go by the Trump administration. Here are four who focused on keeping pandemics at bay.
