ASPPH Statement on the Removal of Critical CDC Data Sets and the Suspension of Scientific Publications

February 3, 2025

The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) is deeply alarmed by the recent removal of critical data sets from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. These vital resources, now replaced with a “Page Not Found or Temporarily Unavailable” message, are essential for academic research and frontline public health interventions. Without them, the scientific community and public health professionals are unable to develop evidence-based strategies to protect the American people.

Equally concerning is the CDC’s directive to pause or retract scientific research manuscripts under consideration by medical and scientific journals—including Public Health Reports, the journal ASPPH co-publishes with the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. This unprecedented restriction on scientific communication directly threatens public health progress. We strongly urge the new administration to lift this mandate.

Access to reliable data is the foundation of modern public health. Blocking it hinders life-saving research, weakens disease prevention efforts, and undermines the ability of public health experts to provide accurate guidance at local, state, and federal levels. At a time when the United States faces persistent threats from infectious diseases, chronic illnesses, and emerging health crises, transparency and scientific integrity must be upheld—not suppressed.

We call on the Trump administration to restore access to these critical data sets and remove barriers to scientific research and publications to protect the health and safety of the American people.

OTHER STATEMENTS:

ASPPH Addresses the Senate Labor-HHS-ED Appropriations Bill and its Impact on Public Health

August 2, 2024 

The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) is pleased by the Senate’s approval of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS-ED) appropriations bill, which increases investment in federal public health programs. ASPPH has long advocated for enhanced funding for public health agencies, and despite the budget constraints set two years ago, the current funding levels are substantial.

ASPPH Urges Candidate Trump to Prioritize Public Health Leadership in the 2024 Presidential Election

September 18, 2024

Regardless of the election’s outcome, ASPPH urges the nominees “to commit to leading the nation and world in addressing public health emergencies and in creating an environment in which public health can support optimal health outcomes.”