Two Outbreak Records Broken, Zero F’s Given From Trump, RFK Jr.: Public Health Project Newsletter

Donald Trump loves to speak in absolutes. Everything he’s doing is the greatest that’s ever been done in history and shattering records while his political opponents have the worst records known to man, etc., etc. This week, Trump did actually break two records on measles and cyclospora infections, but he’s been uncharacteristically shy about it.

First we learned that U.S. measles cases have officially soared to the highest level in 35 years, “surpassing all of last year’s record total … with more than five months still remaining in 2026”. And no surprise, 93 percent of the infections involve the unvaccinated or those with unknown status. As Protect Our Care has documented, this was the inevitable result of the relentless Trump-RFK Jr. anti-vax agenda that has stoked unfounded fear about vaccine safety and further dragged down vaccination rates.

No Light At End of RFK Jr Tunnel: Oklahoma was one of the states hit hardest by measles last year, yet “child vaccination rates continue to drop” amid ubiquitous anti-vax misinformation being platformed at the highest levels. The NYT makes a sobering point: “Reversing course on measles would require a nationwide push to improve vaccination rates, a prospect that experts said seemed unlikely under the leadership of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He has halted funding for vaccine hesitancy research, downplayed the risks of measles and spearheaded a hunt for evidence that vaccines are unsafe.”

Historic Explosive Diarrhea Crisis ‘Under Control’?: The nation is suffering through another record-breaking health crisis: cyclospora outbreaks. As a rash of new cases continue to be confirmed, this week Trump health secretary RFK Jr. shrugged off mounting criticism over the Trump cuts that are hampering the federal response to the cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands and hospitalized over 300 — smugly declaring, “We do have the outbreak under control”, then pivoting back to his phony political stunt on health care fraud.

Less than 24 hours later, the Trump FDA announced it is “investigating yet another outbreak of the diarrhea-causing cyclospora parasite, with 72 cases tied to an unknown source.”

The chorus of outrage is deafening over the administration’s self-sabotage and bumbling in this crisis:

Senator Jon Ossoff in inquiry to RFK Jr.: “Your foolish and self-indulgent demolition of critical public health programs puts Americans at risk.”
Ossoff to RFK Jr on ignored inquiry: “Your silence amidst an ongoing outbreak of diarrheal disease is indicative of the reckless arrogance with which you demolished America’s public health defense.”
Congresswoman Haley Stevens: “RFK Jr. must face the consequences for endangering Michigan families. He needs to be impeached.”
Rep. Jamie Raskin: “They’re dismantling the NIH with RFK Jr. It’s inevitably going to come back to haunt us. You’ve got to invest in research and public health. Those were two of their targets when they came in to begin dismantling.”
AOC: “There’s a direct correlation here. You had DOGE ripping through the NIH and the FDA. They laid off about a quarter of a million people. A lot of these people were responsible for food inspections, drug inspections, and our core governmental infrastructure. Detecting these kinds of outbreaks was exactly what these people’s jobs were.”

Anti-Vax Trump Nominee Hits Roadblock: Confirming a vaccine skeptic to help oversee the nation’s emergency supply of vaccines may be a bridge too far even for some Republicans on the Senate HELP Committee. Sean Kaufman’s nomination is now in limbo over his alarming views against the Hepatitis B vaccine credited with saving thousands of kids’ lives every year. Withdrawing his name seems the best course for all involved.

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