CDC Rehires 180 Fired Employees After Sudden Layoffs Spark Backlash

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has backtracked on its decision to lay off nearly 180 employees, ordering them to return to work just two weeks after issuing termination notices. Emails sent on Tuesday, with subject lines reading “Read this email immediately,” informed the affected staff that their February 15 termination notices had been rescinded. “You should return to duty under your previous work schedule,” the emails stated, adding an apology for the disruption caused.

The reinstatements come as part of broader cost-cutting measures initiated by the Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk, which have sparked widespread criticism and reversals across federal agencies. The CDC, a critical agency tasked with protecting Americans from public health threats, initially planned to lay off nearly 1,300 probationary employees. However, only between 700 and 750 termination notices were issued, with 180 now being reinstated. This leaves approximately 550 employees still facing job cuts, though federal health officials have not provided official figures. Among those rehired are outbreak responders in fellowship programs, including recent graduates and individuals with doctoral degrees.

The move has been praised by some, including U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, who called it a “welcome relief” but emphasized that more action is needed to fully restore the CDC’s workforce. The reinstatements highlight the ongoing tension between cost-cutting initiatives and the need to maintain robust public health infrastructure. Similar reversals have occurred in other federal sectors, including food safety, nuclear weapons oversight, and national parks. Despite promises of “radical transparency” from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., details about the CDC’s staffing changes remain unclear. As the agency navigates these challenges, the reinstatement of 180 employees offers a temporary reprieve, but questions linger about the long-term impact on the CDC’s ability to respond to public health crises.
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