Rachel Goldberg

Health policy expert, advocate, pet person, knitter/crocheter. All the tweets and views are mine, and do not represent employer or others. RT not = endorsement.

[Rachel Goldberg @RachelGPhD]

For now.

[SCOTUSblog @SCOTUSblog]

NEW: Supreme Court declines to hear case on constitutionality of same-sex marriage

https://t.co/7UMswc05X5

[DrDemetre @dr_demetre]

My resignation letter from CDC.

Dear Dr. Houry,

I am writing to formally resign from my position as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective August 28, 2025, close of business.   I am happy to stay on for two weeks to provide transition, if requested.

This decision has not come easily, as I deeply value the work that the CDC does in safeguarding public health and am proud of my contributions to that critical mission. However, after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough.

While I hold immense respect for the institution and my colleagues, I believe that it is imperative to align my professional responsibilities to my system of ethics and my understanding of the science of infectious disease, immunology, and my promise to serve the American people.  This step is necessary to ensure that I can contribute effectively in a capacity that allows me to remain true to my principles.

I am unable to serve in an environment that treats CDC as a tool to generate policies and materials that do not reflect scientific reality and are designed to hurt rather than to improve the public’s health.  The recent change in the adult and children’s immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people.   The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership.  This lack of meaningful engagement was further compounded by a “frequently asked questions” document written to support the Secretary’s directive that was circulated by HHS without input from CDC subject matter experts and that cited studies that did not support the conclusions that were attributed to these authors.  Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people.

It is untenable to serve in an organization that is not afforded the opportunity to discuss decisions of scientific and public health importance released under the moniker of CDC.  The lack of communication by HHS and other CDC political leadership that culminates in social media posts announcing major policy changes without prior notice demonstrate a disregard of normal communication channels and common sense.  Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought-out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long X posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function.  Some examples include the announcement of the change in the COVID-19 recommendations for children and pregnant people, the firing of scientists from ACIP by X post and an op-ed rather than direct communication with these valuable experts, the announcement of new ACIP members by X before onboarding and vetting have completed, and the release of term of reference for an ACIP workgroup that ignored all feedback from career staff at CDC.

The recent term of reference for the COVID vaccine work group created by this ACIP puts people of dubious intent and more dubious scientific rigor in charge of recommending vaccine policy to a director hamstrung and sidelined by an authoritarian leader.   Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults.  Their base should be the people they serve not a political voting bloc.

I have always been first to challenge scientific and public health dogma in my career and was excited by the opportunity to do so again.  I was optimistic that there would be an opportunity to brief the Secretary about key topics such as measles, avian influenza, and the highly coordinated approach to the respiratory virus season.  Such briefings would allow exchange of ideas and a shared path to support the vision of “Making America Healthy Again.”  We are seven months into the new administration, and no CDC subject matter expert from my Center has ever briefed the Secretary.  I am not sure who the Secretary is listening to, but it is quite certainly not to us.  Unvetted and conflicted outside organizations seem to be the sources HHS use over the gold standard science of CDC and other reputable sources.  At a hearing, Secretary Kennedy said that Americans should not take medical advice from him.  To the contrary, an appropriately briefed and inquisitive Secretary should be a source of health information for the people he serves. As it stands now, I must agree with him, that he should not be considered a source of accurate information.

The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines favoring natural infection and unproven remedies will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer.  I believe in nutrition and exercise.  I believe in making our food supply healthier, and I also believe in using vaccines to prevent death and disability.  Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun.

The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning.  My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so.  I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud.   I am resigning because of the cowardice of a leader that cannot admit that HIS and his minions’ words over decades created an environment where violence like this can occur.  I reject his and his colleagues’ thoughts and prayers, and advise they direct those to people that they have not actively harmed.

For decades, I have been a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community when it comes to critical health topics.  I must also cite the recklessness of the administration in their efforts to erase transgender populations, cease critical domestic and international HIV programming, and terminate key research to support equity as part of my decision.

Public health is not merely about the health of the individual, but it is about the health of the community, the nation, the world. The nation’s health security is at risk and is in the hands of people focusing on ideological self-interest.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration that I have been afforded during my time at the CDC. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the nation even when under attack from within both physically and psychologically.

Thank you once again for the support and guidance I have received from you and previous CDC leadership throughout my tenure. I wish the CDC continued success in its vital mission and that HHS reverse its dangerous course to dismantle public health as a practice and as an institution.  If they continue the current path, they risk our personal well-being and the security of the United States.

Sincerely,

Demetre C. Daskalakis MD MPH (he/his/him)

[Rachel Goldberg @RachelGPhD]

Today marks the 89th anniversary of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's signing of the Social Security Act. Let’s protect it while it protects us. #SocialSecurity89

[ASRM @ASRM_org]

Congratulations, @GovTimWalz! We ❤️ to see outspoken IVF dads seeking high office. https://t.co/Ziy4HLIJkS

[Rachel Goldberg @RachelGPhD]

It's the dead of summer but the beat goes on in Washington, DC. Never a dull moment.

[Rachel Goldberg @RachelGPhD]

@pseudoprime My favorite meme.

[Rachel Goldberg @RachelGPhD]

@SenFettermanPA Thank you, senator.

[Tom and Lorenzo @tomandlorenzo]

I'm a little weirded out by the requests that we assess Cassidy Hutchinson's clothes from yesterday's hearing. I love doing fashion commentary but a congressional hearing regarding a coup attempt is just about the least appropriate place for it.

[Rachel Goldberg @RachelGPhD]

@TheBloggess Go for it

[Nancy LeaMond @NancyLeaMond]

.@AARP statement on Build Back Better framework:

We are outraged that the initial framework doesn't lower prescription drug prices. It would be a monumental mistake for Congress to not act on an historic opportunity . . .

https://t.co/VPTEMxQZVe

[Rachel Goldberg @RachelGPhD]

Sometimes i wish being a caregiver in the sandwich generation came with really good sandwiches. Roast beef on rye with Russian dressing sounds good. At least everyone is okay.

[Kevin Donnellan @kevindonnellan]

Gen. #ColinPowell and his wife, Alma,have been real forces for positive social change. They used their power to make life better for the world around them. Proud that ⁦@AARP⁩ featured him in a 2006 AARP magazine cover story.

[Rachel Goldberg @RachelGPhD]

@pfglenn ?

[Rachel Goldberg @RachelGPhD]

@michyssoise None of my answers are printable.

[Rachel Goldberg @RachelGPhD]

@michyssoise there you are!

[Susan Reinhard @susanpolicy]

James McSpadden & I want to share some ideas for how to ensure nursing home residents are vaccinated. There was a huge federal push earlier this year. But we have to keep up the effort to vaccinate new admissions. We still see 1,000 NH residents die each month from COVID.

[Rachel Goldberg @RachelGPhD]

This nature putting on a weird but beautiful and mysterious show.

[Lauryn Ricketts @laurynricketts]

THIS is not rain, not ground clutter (the radar beam picking up objects close the radar site --which is in Loudoun County).... the Hydrometeor Classification algorithm identifies this as biological in nature..so likely CICADAS being picked up by the radar beam...

[AARP Policy @AARPpolicy]

An unintentional bias in #Medicaid makes it easier for a person to enter a nursing facility than to receive services at home, even if they prefer to be home and even though home-based care costs less.
#States can fix that.
https://t.co/xCRRSTMiv6

[Erwin Tan 陳 @DoctorTanMD]

Majority of Black LGBTQ participants age 45+ report significant fear of racial & sexual orientation
discrimination if they needed to enter an assisted living situation for older people - rising to 62% for Black transgender & non-binary community
members
@rchoula @drniiquartelai

[AARP Advocates @AARPadvocates]

The nationwide ACA special enrollment period begins TODAY.

AARP fought to make this happen. Everyone must have access to affordable healthcare coverage & medical care – especially during a pandemic.

Learn more & sign up at https://t.co/mMTEGO65D4