Brigid

Termination notices going out this afternoon to more than 300 employees of the National Cancer Institute. Access likely ends today. Four weeks paid leave and that’s it.

Strong power move for Team Cancer.

CDC cuts expected to devastate Epidemic Intelligence Service, a ‘crown jewel’ of public health Members of the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service were warned Friday that many of them were about to be fired

Doing the unthinkable: The deep cuts to the #CDC's workforce today are expected to decimate the Epidemic Intelligence Service, a program that has trained public health rapid responders for decades.
Envy of the world. Poof!
www.statnews.com/2025/02/14/t...

They investigated Zika, anthrax, Ebola—now they’re out.

CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service officers were among thousands let go as the administration downsizes federal health agencies. Dr. Schuchat calls it a serious blow to public safety. What’s the plan to protect us from emerging threats now?

I mean really. Look at these derpy cats. They are the best

Actual language from Louisiana Surgeon General's official website:

"As Surgeon General of the Louisiana Department of Health, Dr. Ralph Abraham is...charged with crafting health policy, including..advocating for wellness and **disease prevention**"
ldh.la.gov/subhome/surg...

There are three House seats currently open in "safe" red districts, but if Dems win them then we take back the house. Supporting these elections is something practical you can do right now. If you are in Florida, pls consider signing up to register voters. Direct links to candidates in comments.

So 17 states say fuck you to people with disabilities. States are absolutely the laboratories of fascism.

Trump Administration Cuts Put Medical Progress at Risk, Researchers Say Grants from the National Institutes of Health come with additional money for overhead. A planned $4 billion cut would leave colleges with large budget gaps.

“I think the American people need to understand how devastating it would be if this goes through,” Dr. Lefkowitz said. “A lot of research would just have to stop; I can’t imagine that the shortfall could be met from other sources.”

Trump just gutted NIH funding—by $4B a year. Research institutions will now get only 15% for buildings, staff & equipment. Scientists call it a catastrophic blow to medicine. Meanwhile, Musk’s DOGE says it’s “efficient.” Because nothing says efficiency like killing research.

I'm sure there will be a lot more of this if the HHS layoffs (including CDC) and anti science / anti vax conspiracy theorist gets confirmed.

Sam - a former HHS General Counsel - lays out key statutory and regulatory problems with the Trump admin’s latest effort to harm US medical research and scientific innovation (by dramatically reducing NIH indirect payments).

Here Is What to Know About U.S. Foreign Aid and the Trump Freeze Critics say a Trump administration order calls into question the United States’ global standing and reliability.

President Trump’s executive order freezing most U.S. foreign aid for 90 days has thrown into turmoil programs that fight starvation and deadly diseases, run clinical trials and seek to provide shelter for millions of displaced people. Here’s what to know.

How Each Senator Voted on Trump’s Cabinet and Administration Nominees The Senate has confirmed each of President Trump’s cabinet nominees that faced a vote to this point.

Useful information, how each senator voted for cabinet picks (so far)

Things feel uncertain, chaotic, and dark right now. But a real bright spot, is that my friend in the midst of a medical crisis has received more than her goal in donations to support her recovery from abdominal surgery. It is heartening to see love, positivity, and supportiveness. ❤️

Senate Democrats Hold Floor In All-Night Protest of Trump’s OMB Nominee Read more here.

NEW: Democratic senators held the floor for nearly 30 hours to oppose the nomination of Russ Vought, a key architect of Project 2025 who is now Trump’s pick to lead the Office of Management and Budget.

I'm not gonna lie, but this feels a little to real right now.

The 20-year-old hackers are not “little boys” or “kids.” To call them such is to minimize the gravity of their actions. When I recall the long history of criminalizing Black youth and designating them “adults,” this makes my blood boil. The racialized construction of “childhood” holds strong.

They (NOAA) also play a big roll in environmental cleanup from environmental disasters like oil spills, and regulating pollution in our water.

Sharing for a friend in need. She's a wonderful person going through a health challenge. If your able, please consider donating, sending healing energy, or prayer. ❤️
www.spotfund.com/story/6fe00c...

remarkable bravery

People have gathered outside USAID HQ for press event with Democratic Congressmen Beyer, Raskin, Connolly and Olzewski and Senator Van Hollen where they're addressing the building's mysterious shutdown today in the midst of the Trump admin dismantling the agency.

(Photos shared with me)

"At least 1,000 USAID staff have had our .gov accounts...deactivated and wiped overnight with no advance communications," USAID worker tells me. "This includes colleagues deployed in active war zones like Ukraine and Gaza who rely on USG technology for safety."
bsky.app/profile/kenk...

This is a big deal, y'all. Federal health websites are being stripped of content or removed in their entirety. Stick with this thread for a look at what's disappeared so far! 1/x

Voting no on his confirmations is such a low bar. It’s the absolute least they could be doing, and yet so many of them fail at even that.

Here are the options on the table (which are not mutually exclusive):

1. House Dems bring articles of impeachment*

2. Senate Dems play constitutional hardball and obstruct everything

3. State AGs litigate (and prosecute) everything they can

4. Citizens march en mass

Must Reads: He voted for Trump. Now he and his wife raise their son from opposite sides of the border He voted for Trump because of abortion. Now the president's immigration stance means he and his wife raise their son from opposite sides of the border.

I mean, did they not expect this to happen again? It's not like it was unprecedented. I remember this story from 2019, I am sure there are many others.

Sad nevertheless.

www.latimes.com/nation/la-na...

I had forgotten about this one. ☎️📱📞

Pat with your eyes. Only with your eyes. 😆