Episode #417 From Dismantling to Rebuilding Public Health, With Abby Tighe
- Laura Hollabaugh
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- Aug 11
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 13
On This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Dr. Huntley sits down with Abby Tighe, a former CDC public health advisor and co-founder of the Fired but Fighting coalition. Together, they share an insider’s look at the nationwide impact of the 2025 mass firing of thousands of CDC and HHS professionals and the dangerous dismantling of America’s public health infrastructure. They also highlight how a grassroots movement is fighting back.
Abby details her unexpected professional journey, her passion for equitable and rural health, and how losing her position became a rallying point for collective advocacy and transparency. Through her story and the birth of Fired by Fighting, listeners are called to action: Public health needs everyone, whether you’re an expert, advocate, or everyday citizen. If you care about the health of your community, want to understand the real impact of policy changes, or are curious how you can help rebuild and protect America’s public health future, this episode is for you.
Meet Abby Tighe
Abby Tighe is a founding member of Fired but Fighting, a coalition of fired public health workers and their allies dedicated to advocating for public health and the public health workforce at the state, local and federal level. Abby is a former CDC public health advisor, who was fired in May by the Trump Administration. In her role at CDC she worked as a project officer serving in the Drug Free Communities branch, where she worked directly with local organizations to support youth substance use prevention. Abby is originally from the Metro-Atlanta area, and currently resides there with her family.
Listen To This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Conversation Highlights
Unprecedented CDC & HHS Workforce Cuts: More than 3,000 CDC employees and thousands more across HHS sub-agencies have been fired in the new 2025 political administration, deeply affecting national and local public health capacity.
Birth of Fired by Fighting Coalition: Abby and fellow former public health professionals launched a coalition and newsletter to bring transparency, advocate for public health, and mobilize support at every level.
Public Health Communication Matters More Than Ever: There is a critical need to speak plainly and clearly about what public health is, why it matters, and how federal funding actually impacts every community and individual across the U.S.
Policy Makers Lack Understanding: Even congressional staff and elected officials often don’t grasp what CDC and public health agencies actually do—creating a dangerous gap in policymaking and funding prioritization.
Plain Language is Power: Whether talking to journalists, lawmakers, or the public, using jargon-free, relatable stories and language is essential to earn trust and mobilize support.
Public Health IS Political: The field has become highly politicized. Advocacy now requires engaging across ideological lines to “depoliticize” public health and emphasize shared goals—healthy, thriving communities for all.
Join the Movement: Fired by Fighting welcomes all allies—from fired public health workers to concerned citizens, scientists, advocates, and anyone passionate about protecting health systems. Volunteering, sharing stories, and participating in campaigns is vital.
Data-Driven Advocacy: The group has developed the cdcdataproject.org dashboard, offering transparent, state- and community-level data on how federal public health cuts translate into real impacts near you.
“We've been talking to a lot of congressional staffers... We're finding that on a government level, people don't understand public health. They don't understand what CDC does... which is, I think, a tragedy because they're doing the work to pass the money.” — Abby Tighe
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DrCHHuntley LLC is a public health consulting firm that specializes in epidemiology consulting, supporting large nonprofit organizations in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida that serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We also provide nationwide public health consulting and epidemiology consulting support to BIPOC organizations across the United States.
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