Statement attributable to:
Isaac O. Opole, MBChB, PhD, MACP
President, American College of Physicians
WASHINGTON March 28, 2025—The American College of Physicians is dismayed by the Trump administration’s announcements about reducing funds and resources that help to protect our nation’s public health and our public health infrastructure. The announced cancellation of grants to state health departments that had already been awarded, with funds appropriated by Congress, will hamper critical public health initiatives including the ability to track the occurrence of infectious diseases across the country. These cuts also decrease the capacity of federal agencies to respond to public health emergencies. The announced changes, while we are in the midst of several disease outbreaks, put our nation’s public health at further risk. The funding cuts, combined with the elimination of 10,000 jobs announced yesterday along with a significant reorganization at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is devastating to our public health infrastructure, and leaves us gravely concerned about the future of our nation’s health.
We are currently facing one of the largest measles outbreaks in decades, as well as the worst influenza season in recent years. It is also critical that we are closely monitoring the evolving situation with avian influenza (bird flu). The announced HHS reorganization lacks transparency or input from Congress, key stakeholders or experts in the areas impacted and damages our ability to respond appropriately to current public health threats. The potential dismantling of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) via the HHS reorganization also damages research efforts about how to improve health care in our country. AHRQ is essential to improving our knowledge about how to deliver high-value, quality care for our patients. The administration needs to conduct due diligence and ensure that the sweeping changes enacted will not damage the government’s ability to protect the health, safety and well-being of the American public.
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About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 172 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 161,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn.
Contact: Jacquelyn Blaser, (202) 261-4572, jblaser@acponline.org