CDC Firings Endanger the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

ASN urges Administration to reinstate staff essential to continuation of NHANES

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) calls on the Administration to immediately rescind the firings of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) employees whose work is essential to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

The recent layoffs of the entire Planning Branch within CDC's Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys threaten future NHANES cycles and the nation's ability to monitor and understand critical health and nutrition trends. These staff are responsible for designing and coordinating NHANES, a vital survey that links diet, health behaviors, and major health outcomes affecting millions of Americans.

NHANES is a cornerstone of the nation's public health infrastructure. It assesses the health and nutritional status of adults and children across the United States through a unique combination of interviews, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. The survey collects comprehensive data on demographic, socioeconomic, dietary, and health-related factors, as well as medical, dental, and physical measurements. Although NHANES is operated by the CDC's NCHS, its data are widely used by multiple federal agencies, researchers, and private sector companies.

NHANES data are used to guide federal policymaking in areas including food labeling, food fortification, food safety, dietary guidance, tracking progress toward national nutrition and health objectives, and establishing nutrition research priorities. The survey influences billions of dollars in federal investments, and is essential to nutrition and health research, policy, and programs. Some examples of how NHANES data are used include:

• Identifying food, nutrition, and health needs to support longevity and reduce chronic diseases among the U.S. population.
• Characterizing eating patterns, food preferences, and dietary intake for use by public health officials, commodity groups, infant formula manufacturers, and researchers.
• Informing national nutrition policy, including the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Dietary Reference Intakes.
• Supporting numerous applications beyond nutrition, including the development of medications and growth charts.

ASN stresses that NHANES is essential to the nation's health and nutrition research enterprise. The survey cannot continue without the expertise of the CDC NCHS Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys Planning Branch staff who design, plan, and coordinate each survey cycle. Without them, this foundational resource and the evidence it provides for science, policy, and public health are at risk.

About the American Society for Nutrition (ASN)

ASN is the preeminent professional organization for nutrition research scientists and clinicians around the world. Founded in 1928, the Society brings together the top nutrition researchers, medical practitioners, policy makers and industry leaders to advance our knowledge and application of nutrition. ASN publishes four peer-reviewed journals and provides education and professional development opportunities to advance nutrition research, practice, and education. Since 2018, ASN has presented NUTRITION, the leading global annual meeting for nutrition professionals. For more information, visit www.nutrition.org.

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Media Contacts: Sarah Ohlhorst, MS, RD
ASN Chief Science Policy Officer
240-428-3647
[email protected]

SOURCE American Society for Nutrition (ASN)