The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has long been a global leader in disease tracking and evidence-based medical guidelines, but recent funding cuts and firings have caused many to wonder whether the institution is still a trusted source.

Washington

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is facing significant upheaval following major budget cuts, staff layoffs, and the removal of vaccine experts under the Trump administration. These actions have led to the resignation of top officials and raised concerns among global health experts about the CDC's ability to provide reliable data and leadership in public health.

Canadian officials and medical experts have expressed alarm over the developments, citing the spread of vaccine skepticism and rising cases of preventable diseases such as measles. The situation has prompted calls for Canada to strengthen its own disease monitoring systems and reduce reliance on U.S. data, as the changes at the CDC are seen as a threat to both national and international public health.

How Trump's cuts to the CDC could threaten public health

For years, it's been the most trusted public health institution in America and the world. This is probably the most turbulent time in the CDC's history. Now the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is in crisis. There is disarray at the CDC tonight. Top officials are resigning en masse. There are serious concerns tonight about the Centers for Disease Control. Over the past six months, the Trump administration axed half the agency's budget, laid off hundreds of employees and removed 17 experts on the National Vaccine Advisory Team. There's a lot of trouble at CDC and it's going to require getting rid of some people. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was grilled by senators from both parties about the CDC shakeup. You said you're going to empower the scientists at HHS to do their job. I'd just like to see evidence where you've done that. He said his changes will fix a broken agency. Critics say he's the one breaking the system by pushing an anti-vaccine agenda. Sir, you're a charlatan. That's what you are. Experts around the globe are alarmed by the developments, including Toronto doctor Fahad Razak, who chairs Canada's new National Advisory Committee on Science. It's not just the severe job cuts. It's the misinformation right from the very top of the agency directorship. I think there is shock, really, that it's gone this far. Razak relies on CDC data every day to inform public health policies here. But with less funding and manpower... We don't know right now how reliable Americans will be as partners. The hollowing out of the centralized capacity of the CDC is something that we don't have an immediate replacement for. So what is at stake for Canada? I think this represents a new kind of threat that we need to grapple with as Canadians. So do you believe in science? Do you believe in data? Do you believe in things like public health and preventative medicine? Those questions, too, are front and centre for CDC leadership. Even new staffers who Kennedy handpicked don't last if they don't fall in line. I think vaccines save lives. Susan Menares was sworn in as CDC director in July. She says she was fired in August after refusing to rubber stamp revised vaccine recommendations. She pushed back in a national newspaper, writing... Still, the White House defended the firing and threatened more. So if people are not aligned with the president's vision and the secretary's vision to make our country healthy again, then we will gladly show them the door. After Menares was dismissed, other directors resigned in protest. The CDC's chief medical officer and top officials in charge of immunization, emerging disease and public health data. CDC was a known entity that could be trusted. That has now been called into question. Dr. Shannon Charlebois, editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, says the CDC is being eroded at a critical time. Vaccine scepticism across North America is spreading and cases of preventable diseases like measles are surging. Our entire country is permeable to any disease threats that emerge in the U.S. that go undetected and thus uncontrolled for any period of time. Florida, a prime destination for Canadian travelers, is even doing away with laws that require children to be vaccinated. A move some public health officials say will lead to higher infections. Charlebois warns Canada needs to strengthen its own disease tracking. She's calling for a national vaccine registry to monitor who is most at risk. We need to step up our own game and continue to closely monitor and pick apart that data. Without detecting outbreaks earlier and containing them, we could have catastrophes happen that outstrip the damages caused by the COVID pandemic. How urgent is this issue? This is urgent. We've already had infants die of measles. We are losing lives because of this. After decades of taking scientific guidance from America, Canada must now rely on itself and find new partners in the future.

NATO has launched operation Eastern Sentry to bolster its presence along the eastern flank of Europe, after Russian drones were found in Poland on Wednesday. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is calling on all treaty members to increase economic pressures on Russia.

Ukraine Invasion

Trump calls on NATO members to impose sanctions on Russia

More than 100,000 people marched through central London on Saturday in a 'Unite the Kingdom' demonstration against immigration organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Police said a number of officers were assaulted.

London

Thousands in London march against immigration

A former chief justice has been sworn in as Nepal's interim prime minister. For many people, Sushila Karki's appointment promises change. Days of violence and anti-government protests left at least 51 people dead.

Kathmandu

Curfew lifted in Kathmandu, violence in Nepal eases

The man accused of killing conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk is being held without bail in a Utah jail. Meanwhile, vigils and memorials across the country honored Kirk as his widow made her first public remarks since his death.

Orem

Charlie Kirk shooting suspect held without bail

President Trump has backed down on his plans to send the National Guard to Chicago, for now. Instead, he told Fox News that federal troops will be deployed to a different city.

Chicago

Trump backs down on sending National Guard to Chicago

A suspect is in custody after the deadly shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Authorities say 22-year-old Tyler Robinson is being held at Utah County Jail, pending formal state charges, which are expected to be filed on Tuesday. CBS News' Andres Gutierrez and Anna Schecter have more.

What we know about the Charlie Kirk shooting suspect's arrest

The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly voted to endorse a declaration outlining "tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps" towards a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians ahead of a meeting of world leaders.

New York

Middle East Conflict

UN endorses two-state solution declaration that condemns Hamas

In Tunisia, the humanitarian aid flotilla for Gaza is set to leave Tunis. About 40 boats will try to deliver aid to the Palestinians under blockade. In Tunisia the departure was not easy, as two boats from the flotilla were subject to reported drone attacks.

Tunis

Gaza aid flotilla prepares to set sail after reported drone attacks

Brazil's Supreme Court has sentenced firebrand ex-president Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for coup plotting at the end of a landmark trial that divided the nation and drew U.S. fury.

Brasilia

Brazil's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years in prison

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed an agreement to push ahead with a controversial settlement expansion plan that would cut across land that the Palestinians seek for a state. "There will never be a Palestinian state. This place is ours," Netanyahu said.

Jerusalem

Netanyahu signs West Bank settlement expansion plan

The United Nations Security Council has condemned the Israeli attack on the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday and called for de-escalation in a statement agreed by all 15 members, including Israel’s chief ally, the United States.

Doha

UNSC members condemn Israel over deadly strike on Qatar

Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate former President Trump in South Florida last year, is representing himself in court. As the trial opened, Routh forfeited his chance to deliver an opening statement, setting the stage for proceedings.

Fort Pierce

Trump assassination attempt suspect defends himself in trial

Photos of a "person of interest" in the assassination of Charlie Kirk were released by the Salt Lake City FBI. Authorities are searching for the person who shot and killed the conservative activist at an event at Utah Valley University.

Photos released of "person of interest" in Charlie Kirk assassination

Authorities shared new details about the suspect's movements leading up to the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The search for the suspect continued on Thursday.

FBI says it has good video of Charlie Kirk shooting suspect

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will award conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated during a campus event in Utah, the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.

Trump says he'll award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Authorities say the weapon used in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been recovered and law enforcement tracked the movements of the suspect.

Officials: Weapon in Charlie Kirk shooting recovered; suspect tracked

Trump vowed retribution in an Oval Office address after his close ally and conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on a campus in Utah. A massive search for the killer intensified following Kirk's death, with police going door-to-door looking for the shooter.

Trump pledges to find killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk

The UAE’s President Mohammed bin Zayed visited Doha a day after Israel’s strike, signalling Gulf solidarity. Qatar’s prime minister called the strike “state terror,” accusing Israel of killing hopes for a hostage deal and demanding Netanyahu face justice.

Qatar seeks ‘collective response’ to Israeli attack

Poland is rejecting the claim that Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace by accident and says the move is reckless and could lead to potential escalation.

Warsaw

Europe on edge after Russian drones invade Polish airspace

Prince Harry and King Charles had a private tea in London, Buckingham Palace. This marks their first meeting in nearly two years. Harry, the Duke of Sussex, last saw his father in early 2024, shortly after it was announced the King was undergoing cancer treatment.

King Charles, Prince Harry meet for the first time in nearly 2 years

U.S. President Donald Trump says rightwing political activist Charlie Kirk is dead after being shot in the neck at a university campus event in Utah. There is not a suspect in custody.

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk killed in shooting, Trump says

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux voted on Wednesday (September 10) to acquit former President Jair Bolsonaro of forming a criminal organization and voted to annul his trial over jurisdiction, breaking with peers and raising the odds of an appeal after the final verdict this week.

Brazilian judge votes to annul Bolsonaro case, breaking with peers

U.S. President Donald Trump urged EU officials on Tuesday to hit China with tariffs of up to 100% as part of a strategy to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a U.S. official and an EU diplomat.

Global Tariffs

Trump urges EU to impose 100% tariffs on China and India, sources say

Poland shot down drones that entered its airspace during a widespread Russian attack in western Ukraine, with the NATO member calling the incursion "an act of aggression." It marks the first time a member of the alliance has fired shots in the war.

Poland downs Russian drones in first shots fired by NATO member in war

Two Brazilian Supreme Court justices voted to convict former President Jair Bolsonaro of leading a criminal conspiracy to overturn the 2022 election, as they cast the first votes in the final phase of the ex-president's trial.

Two Brazil Supreme Court justices vote to convict Bolsonaro

Nepal’s prime minister has stepped down with at least 22 people dead, the country’s parliament in flames and its main airport shut down during a violent revolt. The unrest started over a social media ban and grew into a broader anti-corruption protest.

Nepal’s parliament set on fire, PM resigns as protests spiral

U.S. President Donald Trump can't escape questions about Jeffrey Epstein as a congressional committee released a suggestive personal note to Epstein allegedly from Trump, for the convicted sex offender’s 50th birthday.

White House denies alleged Trump letter to Epstein is authentic

Israel's military said it "conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization," amid reports of large explosions in Qatar's capital city, Doha.

Breakdown