The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) is not being published during the federal government shutdown that began on October 1, a significant change from past shutdowns when essential personnel continued to publish the report. The last issue of the report was published on September 25. It is listed as the “current” issue on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. So far, both the October 9 and 16 issues have been missed.
The report has also experienced a slowdown in publishing due to widespread layoffs and increased scrutiny. From May to July 2025, an average of 35 articles was published per month, down from an average of 76 articles for those same months over five earlier years. The Trump administration's sweeping layoffs of federal scientists have left fewer scientists to write articles. According to sources, recent changes to the review process, which require every article to be cleared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services’ office, also contributed to the decrease in submissions.