The article titled “Welcome to the Pro-Death Administration” from The New Republic critiques the current administration under President Donald Trump and senior adviser Elon Musk, highlighting policies and actions that, according to the author, undermine public health, safety, and environmental protections. 

Public Health and Disease Response

The administration has implemented significant cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), resulting in the loss of approximately 10,000 employees. These reductions affect critical agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The CDC, for instance, is expected to lose about 18% of its staff. These cuts occur amidst an ongoing bird flu outbreak among poultry, raising concerns about the nation’s preparedness for potential human pandemics. Compounding these worries, the administration has left the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy understaffed, and there are reports of reconsidering a contract with Moderna to develop a bird flu vaccine. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has even suggested allowing the virus to spread unchecked among poultry flocks.  

Cancer Research Funding

The administration has also targeted cancer research, leading to the abrupt termination of projects supported by the Defense Health Research Consortium. This includes research into pancreatic, kidney, and lung cancers. Such cuts jeopardize decades of progress in cancer treatment and threaten to reverse declining mortality rates associated with the disease. 

Transportation Safety

In the realm of transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), responsible for researching and promoting traffic safety, has faced aggressive staffing reductions. These cuts are particularly concerning given the NHTSA’s role in investigating vehicle safety issues, including those related to Tesla’s self-driving technology. The reduction in staff dedicated to preventing auto-related deaths raises alarms about future increases in traffic fatalities. 

Nuclear Safety and Environmental Policies

The National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA), overseeing the nation’s nuclear arsenal, is experiencing staffing challenges due to firings and buyouts. This depletion of experienced scientists and engineers poses risks to the secure management of nuclear weapons. Furthermore, the administration’s foreign policy stance has prompted countries like South Korea and Germany to consider developing their own nuclear capabilities, potentially escalating global nuclear tensions. 

Environmental policies have also been rolled back, with efforts to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), withdraw from international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord, and undo initiatives aimed at combating climate change. These actions threaten to exacerbate environmental degradation and undermine global efforts to address climate challenges. 

In summary, the article portrays an administration whose policies and budgetary decisions are perceived as prioritizing economic and political agendas over the health, safety, and well-being of the populace, potentially leading to increased mortality and public health crises.