Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who took over as U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary in early 2025, promised to revamp the nation’s food system and restore public trust in agencies like the CDC amid lasting concerns over foodborne illness responses. That promise is being put to the test by a widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that has sickened thousands across multiple states, including over 7,000 reported cases in Michigan alone. While Kennedy claims the outbreak is “under control” and disputes that budget cuts have impaired response efforts, many experts argue the situation exposes significant weaknesses in the U.S. food safety infrastructure.

Cyclospora, the parasite causing this outbreak, is notably difficult to monitor due to its biology, making contamination sources hard to identify swiftly. The FDA and CDC initially pointed to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms after a positive test for cyclospora, but later retracted that finding, calling it a false positive. This reversal sowed confusion and highlighted the challenges of managing public communication during complex foodborne outbreaks. Experts note that the agencies’ struggles are worsened by long-term underfunding, staff reductions, and delayed implementation of policies designed to improve traceability and outbreak response.

The effects of budget cuts by the previous Trump administration are widely seen as a factor weakening the U.S. response capacity. The CDC’s Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria lost significant international funding and staff, some of whom could otherwise support outbreak investigations. At the same time, state and local health departments have suffered personnel losses due to cuts in federal grants, impacting their ability to conduct thorough case interviews and disease tracking. While the agencies continue collaborative efforts across all states and maintain open information channels, the gaps in resources and coordination persist as major obstacles.

Further complicating the response is the FDA’s food safety budget, which remains a small fraction compared to other regulatory centers, limiting rapid and clear communication during recalls or investigations. Experts argue that enhancing funding, accelerating traceability rules, and modernizing public communications could significantly improve future outbreak handling. As additional cases linked to yet unidentified products emerge, the cyclospora outbreak remains a critical test for Secretary Kennedy’s pledge to overhaul the system and rebuild confidence in public health institutions.