In a move that has stirred concern across the U.S. public health community, the Trump administration has quietly shut down the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), a vital group that helped shape national infection prevention guidelines.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially terminated the committee on March 31, 2025, but members only learned of the decision weeks later, in early May.
HICPAC had played a central role in advising the CDC on strategies to prevent healthcare-associated infections and combat antimicrobial resistance two of the most pressing threats to patient safety in hospitals and clinics across the United States.
The disbanding of the committee is part of a broader administrative agenda led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is working to reduce the number of federal advisory panels. The decision aligns with President Donald Trump’s ongoing push to streamline government operations and cut back on what his administration calls “redundant bureaucracy.”
But many public health officials are warning that the loss of HICPAC could have far-reaching consequences. The decision comes on the heels of sweeping budget cuts to health institutions, including nearly halving the CDC’s funding and ending over a dozen health-monitoring programmes.
Critics argue the move weakens the country’s ability to respond to infection outbreaks in healthcare settings a critical function in a world still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and facing growing threats from drug-resistant bacteria.
“This isn’t just trimming fat. It’s cutting into the muscle of our public health system,” said a former CDC official who requested anonymity.
As concerns mount over the impact of this decision, experts say it underscores the need for renewed investment in public health infrastructure particularly in infection control, where lives and safety are directly at stake.
