In the Media: Reductions in Force at the NIH and CDC

In my conversation with Bill Wirtz, I explored the consequences of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s efforts to “rein in” the influence of the pharmaceutical industry by downsizing key health agencies, such as the FDA, NIH, and CDC. Kennedy’s approach, framed as a push for regulatory reform, includes deep staffing cuts and the elimination of user fees that fund much of the FDA’s drug review work. While regulatory rules remain on paper, the personnel and logistical infrastructure that enforce them—such as teams who arrange foreign inspections—have been gutted.

I warned of a delayed but profound impact: the loss of early-career scientists and researchers means a missing generation of expertise just as older professionals retire. Wirtz noted the irony of an administration touting efficiency while creating regulatory bottlenecks. The conversation closed with skepticism about Kennedy’s reliance on artificial intelligence to replace human oversight, a gamble with unproven and potentially dangerous consequences for public health.

You can find my remarks here

And the entire conversation with Bill Wirtz and his other guests here.