Six months after Hurricane Helene, the aftermath in western North Carolina is still evident. Rusted debris can still be seen in the yards of water-damaged homes in and around Asheville. While structural damage is apparent, Helene, a federal disaster worker named coincidentally after the storm, is also concerned about less visible issues that linger, such as mold and the mental and financial health impacts faced by the community.
Helene, who until April 1 worked at the National Center for Environmental Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), explained that the six-month mark is critical for recovery. She and her team were prepared to conduct a widespread survey to assess ongoing challenges, but were laid off due to cuts orchestrated under directives by Elon Musk. Approximately 10,000 positions were affected across federal health agencies.
Helene’s CDC team, alongside public health workers from the county, state, and a local university, were scheduled to survey 210 households within Buncombe County. The survey aimed to gather data on food insecurity, unsafe drinking water, and toxic chemical exposure. They intended to compile a report within 48 hours to support local officials in addressing urgent needs. However, the effort was abruptly halted as Helene and her colleagues were placed on administrative leave, leading to her difficult task of informing state and county partners.
The cancellation of the Buncombe County survey reflects a broader issue tied to significant staffing and funding reductions within federal health agencies during the Trump administration. Helene shared her profound disappointment, feeling as though she had let down the community and the state by not being able to respond to their needs.
The CDC, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has not commented on the specifics but confirmed staffing reductions by 2,400 positions within the agency. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. outlined on social media the need to recalibrate HHS’s approach to emphasize preventive care due to ineffective previous strategies, despite substantial spending.
The HHS workforce is slated to decrease from approximately 82,000 to 62,000 employees, partly through early retirements and staff opting for a buyout. Alongside this, contract spending is being reduced by 35%.
The impact of these reductions became immediate as they disrupted the North Carolina survey. Buncombe County’s Public Health Director, Ellis Matheson, expressed disappointment given the anticipation and public awareness of the project. Matheson emphasized the missed opportunity for direct community engagement, which would have connected residents with necessary resources.
Dr. Zack Moore, an epidemiologist with North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, emphasized the role of CDC expertise, which now dwindled due to cuts, in disaster and disease management. He highlighted the critical need for federal support since a majority of his department’s budget comes from the CDC.
The reduction in the CDC’s workforce, particularly in environmental health, poses a risk for state responses to future disasters, as many states heavily rely on CDC’s specialized knowledge and resources. Dr. Moore remarked on the concerning challenges that include hurricanes, measles, and the flu, all compounded by the significant loss of CDC’s capabilities.
