U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly, a Democrat from Virginia, is raising concerns about recent cuts to the public records staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). On April 1, the CDC’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) team was significantly reduced as part of broader layoffs affecting thousands of workers at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
In a letter addressed to CDC’s acting director, Dr. Susan Monarez, Connolly expressed his alarm over the elimination of 22 staff members responsible for handling public records requests. These positions are critical, as they ensure compliance with FOIA, a law that has been in place since the 1960s, allowing the public access to government information.
Connolly pointed out that with these layoffs, there are currently no personnel available to process FOIA requests at the CDC. He argued that this move appears to be an effort by the administration to limit public access to information about government operations. The congressman emphasized the importance of transparency, especially in light of ongoing outbreaks of infectious diseases in the U.S.
During a recent press conference, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that he intends to restore all FOIA offices, though it remains unclear whether he plans to rehire the staff who were let go. He assured the public that obtaining information from HHS would become easier and that the agency would strive to make documents available online.
Kennedy, who previously led an anti-vaccine group, has faced scrutiny over his commitment to transparency. A federal judge recently expressed concern regarding the impact of the FOIA staff layoffs on the agency’s ability to fulfill its legal obligations to provide public records.
Connolly has requested details about how the CDC plans to comply with public records laws moving forward, as well as information on any outstanding FOIA requests and communications between the Trump administration and CDC officials. He believes that maintaining transparency is crucial for the public’s understanding of the government’s capacity to respond to health crises.
As this situation unfolds, the public and lawmakers alike are watching closely to see how the CDC and HHS will handle the challenges posed by these staffing changes.