In a recent The Hill opinion piece, Sean Hennessy, PharmD, PhD, Professor of Epidemiology, highlights the critical role of a long-standing federal health program—and the risks it now faces.
For more than 60 years, a federal program called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has quietly helped protect Americans’ health. By testing and examining thousands of people each year, it has uncovered hidden risks and informed major public health decisions. NHANES identified dangerous lead exposure from gasoline, revealed early signs of the obesity epidemic, and detected millions of undiagnosed cases of high blood pressure. It has also highlighted gaps in Americans’ nutrition, leading to improvements in baby formula and the fortification of staple foods like cereal and bread.
Now, NHANES is at risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eliminated the team responsible for planning and coordinating the survey following a government shutdown, and those positions have not been restored. Without NHANES, the U.S. would lose a critical system for tracking chemical exposures in children, monitoring chronic diseases like diabetes, and informing policies on food labeling, environmental safety, and preventive care.
Experts warn that without this program, policymakers would be “flying blind.” Supporters are urging Congress to reinstate the NHANES team to preserve one of the nation’s most vital public health tools.