David Espey steps down as acting director of CDC Division of Cancer Prevention and Control

Amid funding cuts and firings, cancer groups seek relief from judges, in Congress—and in the court of public opinion

As NCI employees and others at HHS were receiving notices of termination, national cancer organizations called on Congress “to restore stability to NIH.”

February 21, 2025

Vol.51 No.07

By Claire Marie Porter, Jacquelyn Cobb and Paul Goldberg

White House

“The Agency finds you are not fit…”
HHS notifications of firing add insult to injury

An estimated 5,200 of HHS employees have been fired during the course of this week. Since the firings are ongoing, no final tally of their extent exists. At this writing, approximately 1,200 of the fired HHS employees were working at NIH, about 700 at FDA, and 750 at CDC.

February 21, 2025

Vol.51 No.07

By Claire Marie Porter

News Analysis

Trump executive order to “Make America Healthy Again” cites questionable data from Wuhan
White House cites paper in pay-to-play journal claiming that U.S. has highest age-standardized incidence rate of cancer

Cancer data quoted in President Trump’s executive order last week have raised eyebrows among experts in cancer epidemiology.

The fight against cancer is global. Our focus must be as well.

Today, our world is small. It feels smaller all the time. In a few hours we can get to any point on the globe.

February 21, 2025

Vol.51 No.07

By W. Kimryn Rathmell

Guest Editorial

As cancer research is threatened, we must engage in political advocacy

As cancer clinicians, we spend years learning how to think objectively and rationally when supporting patients who have responded to a cancer diagnosis with anger and fear.

February 21, 2025

Vol.51 No.07

By George J. Weiner

Black History Month Conversation with The Cancer Letter

Brian Rivers: Celebrating Black history reinforces the dynamic culture of America
“It gives America, in part, its identity.”

Nearly 30 years ago, while completing an assignment for his master’s degree in public health, Brian Rivers discovered he had a family history of prostate cancer.

February 21, 2025

Vol.51 No.07

By Jacquelyn Cobb

David Espey steps down as acting director of CDC Division of Cancer Prevention and Control

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

Amid funding cuts and firings, cancer groups seek relief from judges, in Congress—and in the court of public opinion

“The Agency finds you are not fit…”
HHS notifications of firing add insult to injury

Trump executive order to “Make America Healthy Again” cites questionable data from Wuhan
White House cites paper in pay-to-play journal claiming that U.S. has highest age-standardized incidence rate of cancer

The fight against cancer is global. Our focus must be as well.

As cancer research is threatened, we must engage in political advocacy

Brian Rivers: Celebrating Black history reinforces the dynamic culture of America
“It gives America, in part, its identity.”

Renew today!

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David Espey steps down as acting director of CDC Division of Cancer Prevention and Control

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

Amid funding cuts and firings, cancer groups seek relief from judges, in Congress—and in the court of public opinion

“The Agency finds you are not fit…”HHS notifications of firing add insult to injury

Trump executive order to “Make America Healthy Again” cites questionable data from WuhanWhite House cites paper in pay-to-play journal claiming that U.S. has highest age-standardized incidence rate of cancer

The fight against cancer is global. Our focus must be as well.

As cancer research is threatened, we must engage in political advocacy

Brian Rivers: Celebrating Black history reinforces the dynamic culture of America“It gives America, in part, its identity.”

Never miss an issue!

Login

“The Agency finds you are not fit…”
HHS notifications of firing add insult to injury

Trump executive order to “Make America Healthy Again” cites questionable data from Wuhan
White House cites paper in pay-to-play journal claiming that U.S. has highest age-standardized incidence rate of cancer

Brian Rivers: Celebrating Black history reinforces the dynamic culture of America
“It gives America, in part, its identity.”