Thank you, Dr. Faust, for this clear and deeply disturbing analysis. The most alarming part is that this isn’t chaos. It is calculated. A procedural roadmap to dismantle public health under the guise of normalcy. The scale of the proposed cuts and the potential for legal RIFs and reorganization amounts to a quiet coup against the health infrastructure we all depend on.
Great explainer for how the budget process works- I’ve been trying to follow for the past couple weeks and haven’t seen such a clear and concise explanation.
I’m curious how your sources would suggest getting the general public to understand the guaranteed severe long-term impacts of these cuts to the everyday American (what is the “eggs are too expensive” day-to-day analogy?). As physicians and scientists, we understand the intricacies and repercussions, but these days, the general American is already very skeptical of listening to the medical establishment and unfortunately doesn’t have the time, interest, or understanding to delve into abstract concepts.
I think so much damage has been done already by the mass firings, the number of talented people let go, fired, retired, or leave that I don't think we will know the full magnitude for a while. That's scary to me. Also, by the time Congress or Senate specifically would balk at the cuts and the courts look at things you're talking at LEAST months and longer. The US will lose a lot of ground with talented ones going to other countries, loss of younger ones going into research, public health, global health. It all affects the other issues. How many of the thousands already let go will want to come back? Can the US depend on the research from other countries to "pick up the slack"? We can only wait and see but NOT optimistic. Coming up soon is the vax review that was cancelled a short while ago on guideline for flu, covid, RSV and other vaxes for the months ahead. What will it come out and say. My sense is it will just say "each to their own" and just talk with your doctor. But no emphasis or push for vaxes.
What are the chances that this mostly typical procedural approach is a strategy to make the bitter medicine go down easier than the scorched earth DOGE dismemberment?
Perhaps they are learning as they go along, just like AI.
Unfortunately a lot of damage has already been done. With the mass firings of talented people how many would come back and for how long if they "learned" anything. I don't see Jr or the sub agency chiefs doing that. All they are interested in is chronic diseases. Jr has made that apparent. 2-4 years this is it unfortunately.
Amid all the cuts in funding. Where will new and updated vaccines come from? (yearly flu, Covid and if Bird Flu advances). How can we protect ourselves? Is the future leading to lining up in Canada?
It looks like the $20 billion taken from NIH will be going instead to "Administration for a Healthy America". Any idea about what this administration would do, or whom it would employ?
Thanks for explaining this pretty painlessly. New sausage making vocabulary, made tolerable.
Superb!! Not the cuts but the reporting & clear explanation! Understanding this is critical to planning resistance.
Thank you, Dr. Faust, for this clear and deeply disturbing analysis. The most alarming part is that this isn’t chaos. It is calculated. A procedural roadmap to dismantle public health under the guise of normalcy. The scale of the proposed cuts and the potential for legal RIFs and reorganization amounts to a quiet coup against the health infrastructure we all depend on.
Great explainer for how the budget process works- I’ve been trying to follow for the past couple weeks and haven’t seen such a clear and concise explanation.
I’m curious how your sources would suggest getting the general public to understand the guaranteed severe long-term impacts of these cuts to the everyday American (what is the “eggs are too expensive” day-to-day analogy?). As physicians and scientists, we understand the intricacies and repercussions, but these days, the general American is already very skeptical of listening to the medical establishment and unfortunately doesn’t have the time, interest, or understanding to delve into abstract concepts.
What would be the most effective way to resist this?
I think so much damage has been done already by the mass firings, the number of talented people let go, fired, retired, or leave that I don't think we will know the full magnitude for a while. That's scary to me. Also, by the time Congress or Senate specifically would balk at the cuts and the courts look at things you're talking at LEAST months and longer. The US will lose a lot of ground with talented ones going to other countries, loss of younger ones going into research, public health, global health. It all affects the other issues. How many of the thousands already let go will want to come back? Can the US depend on the research from other countries to "pick up the slack"? We can only wait and see but NOT optimistic. Coming up soon is the vax review that was cancelled a short while ago on guideline for flu, covid, RSV and other vaxes for the months ahead. What will it come out and say. My sense is it will just say "each to their own" and just talk with your doctor. But no emphasis or push for vaxes.
Excellent explainer.
What are the chances that this mostly typical procedural approach is a strategy to make the bitter medicine go down easier than the scorched earth DOGE dismemberment?
Perhaps they are learning as they go along, just like AI.
Unfortunately a lot of damage has already been done. With the mass firings of talented people how many would come back and for how long if they "learned" anything. I don't see Jr or the sub agency chiefs doing that. All they are interested in is chronic diseases. Jr has made that apparent. 2-4 years this is it unfortunately.
Amid all the cuts in funding. Where will new and updated vaccines come from? (yearly flu, Covid and if Bird Flu advances). How can we protect ourselves? Is the future leading to lining up in Canada?
It looks like the $20 billion taken from NIH will be going instead to "Administration for a Healthy America". Any idea about what this administration would do, or whom it would employ?