Several Officials Reportedly Resigned from the CDC
Recently, a few officials, including Tom Bevan, Josh Kraushal, and Yemisi Egbewore, stepped down from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This comes amid a criticism of President Donald Trump’s “special report” policies.
Demetre Daskalakis, a prominent CDC official, has also resigned this week, asserting that the Trump administration’s approach overlooks scientific facts. Ironically, during the Biden administration’s handling of the monkeypox crisis, Daskalakis faced backlash for seemingly prioritizing public perception over actual health outcomes.
Efforts to displace CDC director Susan Monares by the Trump administration triggered protests from several officials, including Daskalakis. In a social media resignation letter, he stated that a health policy proposed by Chief Robert F. Kennedy “does not align with scientific reality.” He expressed concerns over the administration’s attempts to marginalize the transgender community, opting for the term “pregnant people” to refer to women giving birth.
The situation gained attention as the monkeypox virus began spreading across various countries, including the U.S., in 2022 and 2023. During that period, Daskalakis served as a key advisor in leading the state’s response to the outbreak.
Bipartisan Outrage at the CDC
Shared government communications revealed by a watchdog group highlighted that leaders were aware of the virus impacting the gay community. Still, they seemed more focused on avoiding stigma than addressing the health crisis head-on.
The outbreak led public health officials to specify that locations like baths and saunas were involved, yet authorities refrained from shutting these places down. It stood in stark contrast to the closures seen during the COVID pandemic for gyms and similar venues.
As monkeypox cases rose, Daskalakis discussed on National TV that his team was “certainly doing” their part, emphasizing positivity rather than framing the situation as merely a risk. He noted how different perspectives exist about what’s considered risky or exciting — suggesting that people should find joy while being informed on safety.
Concerns Over CDC Leadership
During the outbreak, Daskalakis gained attention for his social media posts that spurred mixed reactions. He once humorously mentioned, “Dr. Daskarakis could always jab me,” amid playful stickers from the dating app Grindr. Other posts utilized imagery of models in leather, aiming to make a bold statement at the HIV Prevention Summit.
While leading the response to monkeypox, Daskalakis was involved in after-hours STD screenings in New York City, describing the experience as “exciting” despite his lack of sleep. His dual roles raised questions about his criticisms of policies that didn’t reflect “scientific reality” compared to his contributions during the Biden administration’s response to monkeypox.
