CDC dismantles lead exposure team amid health crisis in Milwaukee

In Milwaukee, a significant lead exposure crisis has emerged in public schools, highlighted by the detection of lead in at least nine schools and several students testing positive for elevated blood lead levels. This health issue gained attention back in January, during the final days of the Biden administration, as local health officials sought guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to tackle the situation effectively. However, in early April, under the Trump administration, the CDC denied Milwaukee's request for federal expertise, citing the layoffs of essential staff who specialized in childhood lead poisoning cases due to a sweeping workforce reduction by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The restructuring saw the entire division responsible for lead-related health issues at the CDC disbanded, leaving Milwaukee to manage the crisis independently without the requested support from federal experts. Local officials, including Milwaukee health commissioner Mike Totoraitis, expressed their concern about lacking necessary expertise to interpret lead dust levels discovered during school inspections. This absence of federal aid has sparked fears about the city’s capability to handle further health emergencies, especially given the rising concerns about lead contamination in children. Despite the denial of aid, Milwaukee has taken proactive measures, launching its own blood testing clinics and inspections to examine lead exposure in schools. Nevertheless, city officials have indicated that continued testing and remediation efforts would require state or federal funding, which has not been forthcoming. Additionally, claims by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that federal assistance was being provided to Milwaukee have been rebuffed by local health department officials, creating a conflict over the actual support available to address the urgent health crisis. As the city pushes forward with inspections, it remains under pressure, not only from the lead crisis but also due to other health emergencies such as listeria outbreaks and rising measles cases across the country, amplifying calls for adequate federal support. In the midst of these public health challenges, Milwaukee must rely primarily on its local health resources, highlighting the fragility of the public health system, especially in addressing emerging health problems effectively without federal intervention.