The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) came under fire during the pandemic and suffered a sharp decline in public trust. The government has received recommendations to revive the agency from a group led by Steve Morrison, senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
- The CDC has entered a “moment of peril”, Morrison said, meaning that trust and confidence in the CDC from Americans has declined.
- CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky announced in August 2022 that there would be major changes in the CDC, and many of these changes are waiting to be rolled out, Morrison explained.
- The CDC is a weak player in its presence and communication in the interagency process in Washington, D.C., and needs a stronger daily presence in Washington, according to Morrison.
SEE ALSO | Dr. Rochelle Walensky on overhauling the CDC and challenges in American health
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 13: Exterior of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) headquarters is seen on October 13, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. Frieden urged hospitals to watch for patients with Ebola symptoms who have traveled from the tree Ebola stricken African countries. (Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 30: CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky speaks to the press after visiting the Hynes Convention Center FEMA Mass Vaccination Site on March 30, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Walensky recently said she had a sense of "impending doom" as the rate of coronavirus infection has recently been rising across the U.S. (Photo by Erin Clark-Pool/Getty Images)
