Experts Warn Musk's Agency Overhaul Threatens Pandemic Preparedness Amid Bird Flu Surge

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Experts are raising alarms that Elon Musk's management of the newly established "department of government efficiency," created under the Trump administration, is undermining the United States' pandemic preparedness, particularly as cases of bird flu rise. Musk’s team has gained access to sensitive systems within health agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), leading to fears about the handling of critical health data, according to sources familiar with the operations.

Musk, now an unpaid "special government employee," is targeting layoffs within probationary health agency staff, which could impact hundreds of thousands. Reports indicate that approximately 5,200 staff across health agencies were issued layoff notices, including 1,250 at the CDC. An employee at CDC noted, "The possibility of new outbreaks... is certain given the recent concerning spread of bird flu."

Analysts express concern that the aggressive access to these sensitive data systems could pose significant security risks and potentially harm public health responses. "If it's not possible to report that data... then we're all at risk," warned Scott Cory, a former health agency official.

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