From APHA Executive Director, Georges Benjamin:
In January, we spoke of looking forward to the opportunity to work with the Trump Administration to keep building on the Biden Administration’s health policy successes and address current issues plaguing our nation like chronic health problems. However, in the first 100 days of Trump’s administration, we’ve witnessed the gutting of our public health systems, removal of data and spread of misinformation, making America less secure and healthy. Our nation is clearly being led down the wrong path, assuming we care about preventing injury, illness and disease and providing everyone with the opportunity to lead long and healthy lives. The American Public Health Association is deeply concerned about the direction our country is headed. President Trump is receiving advice from people who don’t put America first and acting on this advice is hurting the nation, not protecting it. A series of executive orders has undermined the work of federal public health agencies in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the selection of individuals to lead the agency without the needed background to improve people’s health has already endangered us all.