The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new director is being pressed to address so-called “zombie” programs—federally funded initiatives that continue to receive money from Congress but reportedly lack the staff needed to operate effectively.
Both outlets report that the issue involves multiple CDC programs that remain funded without adequate personnel to carry out their intended work. The criticism focuses on whether the programs can deliver public health results when they are not staffed, and on what steps leadership will take to review, restart, consolidate, or otherwise restructure the affected efforts.
While the underlying claim is consistent across sources, the coverage frames the topic differently. One outlet emphasizes the political and managerial pressure on the new director to act, while the other highlights that Congress provides funding that persists even when staffing levels do not keep pace. In both accounts, the dispute centers on program capacity and accountability rather than a change in the programs’ authorization status.
