Imploding CDC

The Atlanta Journal Constitution has another in a series of stories about poor morale at CDC. Finally the problems have attracted the attention of a congressional committee, the same one (the Senate Finance Committee) already looking into whether state bioterrorism funding has received adequate CDC oversight:

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee is investigating whether turmoil within the Atlanta-based CDC caused by a massive reorganization is "resulting in the loss of distinguished medical experts whose participation will be greatly needed in the event of future catastrophic health emergencies," committee spokeswoman Jill Kozeny said Tuesday night. (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

For some time complaints have been anonymously posted on an outside website, cdcchatter.net:

Some of the complainants are career CDC employees, many with distinguished scientific records, but they have unanimously refused to be identified, saying they fear reprisals on the job. The employees contend the reorganization has created new bureaucracies that hamper their work and that key scientists have been marginalized.

[snip]

"Current and former employees are reporting that morale problems caused by failure of current agency management to adequately involve employees in the ongoing reorganization are resulting in the loss of distinguished medical experts whose participation will be greatly needed in the event of future catastrophic health emergencies," Kozeny said in a written statement.

The morale problems at CDC have been an open secret for more than a year. I personally know very senior scientists who are retiring because they are fed up with a bureaucracy that makes it difficult or impossible for them to do their jobs. The AIDS group is imploding. The flu group has been reorganized and is in limbo. Professional scientists are disgusted. The place is a mess.

It's a good thing we aren't facing any serious infectious disease threats. Heck of a job, Julie.