The Trump administration has disbanded a federal advisory committee responsible for providing guidelines on preventing the spread of infections in healthcare settings. The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) had developed key national standards, including those for handwashing, mask-wearing, and patient isolation, which most U.S. hospitals followed.
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) informed committee members that HICPAC’s termination took effect on March 31, as part of President Trump’s executive order to reduce the federal workforce.
Despite widespread calls for the committee’s preservation, including a letter from four professional societies to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the CDC has not yet responded to requests for comment. Several HICPAC web pages have been archived, meaning they are no longer being updated, leading to concerns that the committee’s guidelines will become outdated, unable to incorporate new scientific research or address emerging threats like drug-resistant organisms.
Connie Steed, a committee member since 2023, expressed concern that future changes to infection control guidelines may not be made in a timely manner, leaving healthcare professionals without updated recommendations. Dr. Anurag Malani, another member, noted that the committee was close to finalizing new guidelines for airborne pathogens before its termination, which would have addressed issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jane Thomason, a lead hygienist at National Nurses United, criticized the loss of public access to the committee’s decision-making process, stating that it undermines transparency and safety in healthcare settings.
The CDC letter highlighted that HICPAC had made 540 recommendations since its creation, with 90% being fully implemented, underscoring the importance of continued infection control guidance across the country.
