Infectious disease specialists who once led global efforts to stop Ebola, HIV, and emerging viruses are now unemployed, freelancing, or caring for backyard chickens—all after mass layoffs under the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to public health agencies.
Infectious Disease Specialists: From Global Heroes to Forgotten Experts
Just months after the Trump administration released a global health strategy emphasizing “outbreak prevention and response” as a top national priority, it dismantled the very teams responsible for executing that mission. Hundreds of scientists at agencies like USAID and the CDC were abruptly placed on administrative leave or terminated—many with no warning.
“The diseases aren’t going away,” said Dr. Lorin Warnick, dean of Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “The risks are even higher now.”
Four Lives Upended by Policy Shifts
The New York Times spoke with four former public health leaders whose careers—and contributions—have been sidelined:
1. Sarah Paige – Ebola Response Leader
Dr. Paige led USAID’s successful containment of the 2022 Ebola outbreak in Uganda. Now jobless since USAID’s effective shutdown on July 1, 2025, she freelances part-time while battling depression. “We’re just not prepared” for the next pandemic, she warns—especially as Ebola surges again in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
2. Dr. Jonathan Mermin – HIV Prevention Architect
As head of the CDC’s HIV prevention division, Dr. Mermin helped cut new U.S. infections by 36%. His division was dismantled, briefly restored, and is now again slated for elimination. Reassigned to the Indian Health Service with no clear duties, he spends his days tending chickens in Atlanta. “What if no one cares?” he asks.
3. Dr. Stéphie-Anne Dulièpre – Zoonotic Disease Expert
A Black female veterinarian with rare expertise in animal-to-human disease transmission, Dr. Dulièpre joined USAID in late 2024—only to lose her job months later. Now working as a local vet to pay off $125,000 in student debt, she says, “I’ve barely scratched the surface of what I can do.”
4. Dr. Emily Erbelding – Vaccine Pioneer
A key architect of Operation Warp Speed under Trump’s first term, Dr. Erbelding was later ousted amid political fallout over coronavirus origins research. She watched as NIH grants supporting global health, diversity, and gender-inclusive studies were axed. “You’re destroying something that took years to build,” she said. “It can’t be rebuilt as fast as it was taken down.”
Public Health Infrastructure in Freefall
Despite claiming to prioritize pandemic readiness, the administration froze foreign aid in January 2025, citing “waste, fraud, and abuse.” The move halted dozens of outbreak-response programs in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
While some scientists were rehired after public outcry—and hundreds of erroneous layoffs were rescinded in October—many remain in limbo. The Department of Health and Human Services insists it “has preserved the expertise necessary for pandemic preparedness,” but experts on the ground tell a different story.
By the Numbers: The Cost of Cuts
| Metric | Impact |
|---|---|
| Scientists laid off or on leave | 500+ |
| Global health programs paused | 40+ (as of Aug 2025) |
| USAID infectious disease staff lost | ~70% |
| Estimated cost of 2014 Ebola response | $5.4 billion globally |
What’s at Stake?
Experts warn that without robust surveillance, rapid-response teams, and international partnerships, the U.S. is far more vulnerable to the next pandemic—whether it’s bird flu, a new coronavirus, or drug-resistant HIV.
“The next large outbreak is getting closer,” says Dr. Paige. And with public trust eroding and health infrastructure frayed, the nation may not have the capacity to respond in time.
[INTERNAL_LINK:Public Health] advocates are urging Congress to restore funding and reinstate critical divisions before it’s too late.
