Institutional Defense

The Defending Institutions Committee aims to protect and support the people, programs, and resources that make our governmental public health system work. We focus on supporting and protecting the ability of federal, state, and local governments to sustain essential public health functions, which include assessment through surveillance and investigation, policy development based on science, evidence and open dialogue with stakeholders, and assurance--sustaining financial, human resources, operational, and political support for government public health responsibilities. The committee works to inform stakeholders and the public about the importance of CDC and state/local public health departments and the impact of cuts and other changes;  to advocate that policymakers take action to support public health; to connect and align with organizations working for similar aims; to organize and coordinate specific actions for advocacy and protest, and to mobilize and take action on behalf of public health with DPH partners.