Dismantling of Public Health

Since January 2025, the existing federal administration has expedited efforts to restructure its public health infrastructure. This period has been characterized by significant staff reductions, substantial budget cuts, unprecedented program closures, and the proposed reclassification of certain public health degrees, which are currently recognized professional degrees. These actions illustrate increasing politicization within public health and reflect a shift in priorities away from the field. The erosion of public health infrastructure poses considerable risks to community and is likely to diminish the effectiveness of public health across the United States.

Undermining Science, Eroding Trust

Weak public health infrastructures impair our ability to respond to emerging threats—from infectious diseases to environmental hazards. At the same time, growing distrust toward scientific expertise makes it harder to implement evidence-based policies. Physicians are increasingly tasked with dispelling misinformation—even from federal agencies like the CDC—while upholding science-driven approaches. These issues weaken public support for crucial programs and put marginalized communities at heightened risk. As trust and funding erode, not only do important health initiatives suffer, but lives—especially those of vulnerable groups—are placed in greater danger.

Public Health is Poorly Understood

The politicization of public health may stem from a limited understanding of the pervasive ways public health affects daily life and overall well-being. Public health operates under scientific principles and is dedicated to protecting communities. Recognized interventions include maintaining safe workplaces, implementing smoke-free policies, enforcing seatbelt laws, providing immunizations, ensuring water and food safety, and conducting health education campaigns. The recent dissemination of inaccurate public health information undermines the integrity of public health systems, adversely impacts population health, and exacerbates existing health and social inequities.

What Public Health Really Does

Public health is more than disease control and restaurant ratings. Public health is the invisible infrastructure that ensures that all have an equitable chance to live a healthy life. It’s the source of clean and breathable air. It’s the system that promotes equitable access to healthcare and social conditions that support well-being. It’s the framework that prepares us for emergencies and protects the most vulnerable from systemic risks. At its core, public health is about justice.

A Post-Pandemic Backlash

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant challenges in the public’s perception of public health. These views have been frequently exploited and politicized, reflecting complex intersections with racialized ideologies, historical inequities, and resistance to equity-centered policies. Public health has consequently become a contentious arena, where justice initiatives and science-based interventions are met with skepticism and hostility.

Reclaiming the Narrative

Public health is not a partisan issue—it’s a collective responsibility. Yet the current climate has allowed misinformation, political agendas, and ideological resistance to distort its purpose. To reclaim the narrative, we must:

• Center lived experience: Elevate voices from communities most impacted by public health failures and policy neglect.
• Translate complexity: Make public health data, strategies, and goals accessible and compelling to diverse audiences.
• Build coalitions: Unite researchers, practitioners, advocates, and storytellers to defend and reimagine public health systems.

This is not just about restoring what’s been lost—it’s about reimagining what public health can be when rooted in diversity, equity, inclusions, justice, transparency, and community wisdom.

The Path Forward Toward a Healthier Future

The current dismantlement threatens decades of progress and increases the risk of preventable harm. To reverse this trend, we must foster collaborations between public health, social policy, and systems research. This multidisciplinary approach will allow the field to:

• Advocate for sustainable, nonpartisan investment in public health
• Restore public trust through transparency and community engagement
• Prioritize equity-driven strategies that address systemic disparities
• Depoliticize public health to refocus on science, compassion, and resilience.

Public health must be recognized as a cornerstone of social policy and systems research—not an afterthought. Public health professional organizations, Schools of Public Health, public health credentialing bodies, public health grant makers, and all those who fight for justice must unite now. The stakes are too high to ignore. The fight for strong public health systems is a fight for a just, healthy, and resilient society. We protect the invisible scaffolding that holds up our communities. We affirm that health is not a privilege—it’s a right. We must choose resilience, justice, and public health.

What You Can Do

Whether you are a practitioner, researcher, clinician, policymaker, student, or concerned citizen, there are tangible ways to support public health:

• Advocate for funding: Push for sustained investment in local and national public health infrastructure.
• Challenge misinformation: Share credible, evidence-based resources and counter harmful narratives.
• Support workforce development: Champion training, retention, and protection of public health professionals.
• Engage locally: Attend public health forums, support community health initiatives, and vote for leaders who prioritize health equity.

Amplifying Public Health’s Impact

Public health data shape how we understand the world and our place within it. However, public health data must move beyond statistics to capture the human spirit behind the data. Consider:

• Branding and Marketing: Highlight how communities overcome adversity through collective action and innovation.
• Data and Personal Testimonies: Share authentic voices of those affected by health inequities to foster empathy and urgency.
• Visual storytelling: Use compelling visuals, infographics, and multimedia to translate complex information into relatable experiences.

By weaving these elements, we create a tapestry that not only informs but inspires action.

Systems Thinking for Sustainable Change

Public health challenges are interconnected and require interdisciplinary approaches. Embracing systems thinking means:

• Identifying root causes: Look beyond symptoms to understand structural, social, economic, and environmental determinants.
• Cross-sector collaboration: Engage stakeholders from housing, education, employment, policy, transportation, and beyond to co-create solutions.
• Adaptive strategies: Design flexible policies that evolve with emerging data and community feedback.

This approach ensures reforms are resilient, equitable, and impactful.