Institutional Problems and Scientific Disagreements at the CDC under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

在小羅勃·肯尼迪部長領導下，CDC 面臨的制度問題與科學分歧

Jul 5, 2026, 17:25

Introduction

Dr. Debra Houry, the former Chief Medical Officer of the CDC, has given testimony about the decline in operations and the political interference occurring at the agency under the leadership of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

前 CDC 首席醫療官 Debra Houry 醫生已就衛生與公共服務部 (HHS) 部長小羅勃·肯尼迪領導下，該機構運作下滑及遭受政治干預的情況提供證詞。

Main Body

The transition to the current administration led to an immediate change in priorities, which included the removal of many digital clinical guides. Dr. Houry explained that an executive order regarding gender ideology caused the deletion of hundreds of webpages, including important data on Mpox. Later, some of this information was restored to avoid negative publicity during the Secretary's confirmation process, particularly regarding vaccines.

向現任政府過渡後，優先事項立即發生改變，其中包括刪除許多數位臨床指南。Houry 醫生解釋，一項關於性別意識形態的行政命令導致數百個網頁被刪除，包括關於猴痘 (Mpox) 的重要數據。隨後，為了避免在部長確認過程中出現負面宣傳（特別是關於疫苗的部分），部分資訊被恢復。

Furthermore, the agency's internal structure shifted toward a system of strict political review. Dr. Houry asserted that the Secretary's advisors mostly lacked medical or scientific experience, which led to the exclusion of professional scientists. This was most obvious when the Secretary replaced all 17 members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) with his own allies. Some of these new members had previously sued vaccine companies. Dr. Houry noted that these appointments ignored standard ethics checks, which contradicts the Secretary's goal of increasing transparency.

此外，該機構的內部結構轉向一種嚴格的政治審查制度。Houry 醫生斷言，部長的顧問大多缺乏醫學或科學經驗，導致專業科學家被排除在外。最明顯的是，部長將免疫接種實務諮詢委員會 (ACIP) 的全部 17 名成員替換為其盟友。其中部分新成員此前曾起訴疫苗公司。Houry 醫生指出，這些任命忽略了標準的倫理審查，與部長增加透明度的目標相矛盾。

Finally, the Secretary directly intervened in public health programs. For example, the 'Wild to Mild' flu campaign was stopped despite a severe flu season. Additionally, the Secretary promoted non-standard treatments for measles, such as high-dose vitamin A, which reportedly caused some cases of toxicity. The agency also faced massive staff cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), resulting in the loss of about 80% of senior leadership and a serious shortage of experts.

最後，部長直接干預公共衛生計劃。例如，儘管流感季節十分嚴重，但 "Wild to Mild" 流感宣傳活動仍被停止。此外，部長推廣非標準的麻疹治療方法，例如高劑量維生素 A，據報導導致了部分中毒個案。該機構還透過政府效率部 (DOGE) 面臨大規模裁員，導致約 80% 的高層領導流失，專家嚴重短缺。

Conclusion

The current state of the CDC is marked by a significant loss of public trust, as 29 states and the District of Columbia have stopped using CDC guidelines for childhood vaccinations.

CDC 目前的狀態是以公眾信任大幅流失為特徵，已有 29 個州與哥倫比亞特區停止使用 CDC 的兒童疫苗接種指南。

Vocabulary Learning

🚀 The 'Precision' Leap: Moving from Simple to Specific

At the A2 level, you might say "The boss changed the rules" or "He did not like the doctors." To reach B2, you need Precise Verbs. These are words that tell the reader how and why something happened without needing a long explanation.

🔍 The Power Shift (Vocabulary Analysis)

Look at how this text describes changes. Instead of using the word "change" over and over, it uses B2 Action Verbs:

Intervened: Instead of "helped" or "stopped," this means stepping into a situation to change the result.
- Example: "The Secretary intervened in the flu campaign."
Asserted: This is a stronger version of "said." It means saying something with confidence and authority.
- Example: "Dr. Houry asserted that advisors lacked experience."
Contradicts: This is a B2 essential. It doesn't just mean "is different," it means one thing makes the other thing impossible or false.
- Example: "The appointments contradict the goal of transparency."

🛠️ Grammar Hack: The "Result" Connector

B2 speakers stop using "and" to connect every idea. They use Result-Based Transitions to show cause and effect.

A2 Style: The Secretary changed the committee and the scientists were gone. B2 Style: The Secretary replaced the committee, resulting in the loss of experts.

Try this pattern: [Action] + [Comma] + resulting in + [Noun/Outcome]

Text Example: "...staff cuts through DOGE, resulting in the loss of about 80% of senior leadership."

💡 Quick Summary for your Growth

To sound more like a B2 speaker, stop using "general" words.

Don't say "big change" $\rightarrow$ Say "significant loss"
Don't say "bad news" $\rightarrow$ Say "negative publicity"
Don't say "gave a talk" $\rightarrow$ Say "gave testimony"

Vocabulary Learning

interference (n.)

The act of getting involved in a situation when you are not wanted or when it is inappropriate.

Example:The company complained about political interference in their internal decision-making process.

asserted (v.)

To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.

Example:The witness asserted that she had seen the defendant at the scene of the crime.

exclusion (n.)

The act of leaving someone or something out of a group or activity.

Example:The exclusion of young scientists from the board led to a lack of fresh perspectives.

contradicts (v.)

To say the opposite of what someone else has said, or to be in conflict with a statement.

Example:The new evidence contradicts the theory that the accident was caused by weather conditions.

transparency (n.)

The quality of being open, honest, and without secrets, especially in business or government.

Example:The public demanded more transparency regarding how the government spends tax money.

intervened (v.)

To become involved in a difficult situation in order to improve it or prevent it from getting worse.

Example:The teacher intervened before the argument between the two students turned into a fight.

toxicity (n.)

The quality of being harmful or poisonous to living organisms.

Example:The researchers studied the toxicity of the chemical to ensure it was safe for human use.

Practice B2 words in a crossword→