The Trump administration has disbanded a key advisory committee within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that played a vital role in setting nationwide infection control standards for hospitals.
The committee, known as the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), was officially dissolved on March 31. However, members were only notified weeks later, following a virtual meeting.
The CDC, as the United States’ national public health agency, is tasked with protecting public health through disease prevention, control, and preparedness. HICPAC was instrumental in developing infection control guidelines widely used by hospitals and healthcare providers. These guidelines covered essential practices such as hand hygiene, use of masks, and patient isolation to curb the spread of infections.
According to reports, the committee’s termination was confirmed in a letter sent to its members, aligning with President Donald Trump’s executive order focused on reducing the size of the federal workforce.
In addition, shortly after taking office in January, President Trump signed another executive order that temporarily halted all foreign aid assistance.
This move impacted several international health programs, including some operating in Nigeria.
