The Trump administration’s sweeping budget cuts have severely impacted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), leading to significant reductions in its injury prevention efforts. These cuts, executed during the second Trump administration, have resulted in massive job losses, the elimination of entire programs, and a fundamental shift in the agency’s leadership. The changes pose a substantial risk to public health, affecting the CDC’s ability to provide critical data and resources necessary for preventing injuries and saving lives.
As a public health expert with 18 years of experience as a scientist at the CDC, I have witnessed firsthand the systematic dismantling of the agency. The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, one of the hardest-hit divisions, has lost more than half of its staff due to layoffs, with reductions affecting up to two-thirds when other factors are considered. This center plays a crucial role in preventing injuries and violence, which claim more American lives in the first half of life than any other cause, including cancer and HIV.
The Impact on Violence and Injury Prevention
The 2025 layoffs targeted the core of the injury center’s programs, particularly those focused on violence prevention and unintentional injuries. Programs addressing issues such as drowning, traumatic brain injuries, falls among older adults, and motor vehicle crashes have been eliminated. As of late October, only initiatives related to overdose prevention, suicide, and the National Violent Deaths Reporting System remain operational within the injury center.
Unintentional injuries cost the U.S. $4.5 trillion annually, including $323 billion in medical care and lost work productivity.
Each unintentional injury represents a preventable tragedy, altering lives and impacting communities. The loss of these programs leaves many Americans without vital information on how to protect themselves and their loved ones.
Making Youth Sports Safer
One significant casualty of the cuts was the HEADS UP program, which aimed to prevent and reduce head trauma among young athletes. This initiative provided essential training for youth coaches, healthcare providers, schools, and athletic trainers, focusing on concussion prevention and awareness. With traumatic brain injuries affecting over 230,000 people annually in the U.S., and concussions accounting for 45% of emergency visits for such injuries, the program’s elimination is a setback for youth sports safety.
Currently, 45 states recommend or require HEADS UP materials or training in their concussion prevention laws.
The absence of the CDC’s injury prevention team will likely hinder progress in preventing these avoidable injuries, leaving gaps in states where coaches may struggle to meet training requirements.
Preventing Drownings
Drowning remains the leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 4, with fatal and nonfatal incidents costing the U.S. $56 billion annually. The CDC’s drowning prevention team, which was the sole federal entity focused on this issue, was eliminated despite its impactful work. Operating on a modest $2 million annual budget, the team significantly improved public health by enhancing data systems and providing communities with access to lifesaving swimming and water safety skills.
Teaching a child to swim reduces their risk of drowning by up to 88%, with the CDC’s efforts reaching over 22,000 children in 2024 alone.
The loss of this program is a blow to community safety, as every drowning death of a young child is a preventable tragedy.
Challenges for Older Adults and Road Safety
Injuries also significantly affect older adults, with falls being the leading cause of injury and death among those aged 65 and over. The CDC’s STEADI program, which provided educational materials to prevent falls, has been cut. Falls result in hospitalizations, hip fractures, and traumatic brain injuries, representing a substantial portion of Medicare spending.
$2 out of every $3 spent on falls are covered by Medicare, equating to 9% of total Medicare spending on older adults.
Strategies to reduce falls are crucial for lowering healthcare costs, highlighting the essential role of the CDC in reducing expenses for individuals and taxpayers.
Meanwhile, motor vehicle crashes continue to be a leading cause of death in the U.S., with over 40,000 fatalities annually. The CDC’s injury center developed tools for tracking and monitoring crash injuries, enabling states to analyze trends rapidly. The elimination of these resources hampers efforts to improve road safety for drivers and pedestrians alike.
Turning Data into Actionable Insights
Healthcare providers have long relied on the CDC to translate complex data into practical advice. The agency’s guidance has improved the diagnosis and treatment of mild traumatic brain injuries and provided resources for identifying patients at risk of falls. The deep cuts to the CDC’s injury prevention programs represent a serious threat to public health, leaving gaps in knowledge and resources for medical professionals and the public.
As a public health expert, I am deeply concerned about the implications of these cuts. The loss of critical programs compromises the safety and well-being of Americans, leaving communities vulnerable to preventable injuries and deaths. The need for comprehensive injury prevention efforts is more pressing than ever, and the absence of the CDC’s expertise will be felt across the nation.
