Reinstatement of Hundreds of Laid-Off CDC Employees Marks a Shift in Public Health Workforce

In a recent development, over 460 employees who had been laid off from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are now being reinstated, according to a union representing these workers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed that notices of reinstatement were sent out, though detailed information about the decision process remains scarce. These layoffs, occurring in early April, resulted in approximately 2,400 CDC employees losing their jobs amid widespread cuts affecting federal health agencies.

The cuts led to the shutdown of entire programs focused on critical health issues such as smoking cessation, lead poisoning, gun violence, asthma, air quality, workplace safety, and infectious diseases. The office responsible for handling Freedom of Information Act requests was also shuttered, and programs targeting outbreaks, HIV, hepatitis, and tuberculosis faced significant setbacks.

Among those being reinstated, around 200 staff members are associated with the CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention. Additionally, employees working in CDC laboratories that conduct testing for sexually transmitted diseases are returning to their roles. An estimated 150 workers at the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health, including staff working on lead poisoning, are also being rehired.

Legal challenges questioned the legitimacy of the layoffs, with some courts ordering halt measures to prevent employee terminations. Despite this, federal officials, including HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon, reassured the public that the agency is working to streamline operations and maintain effective public health functions. Nixon emphasized the administration’s commitment to protecting essential services such as disease prevention, health research, and environmental safety.

Interestingly, this is not the first instance where CDC employees received termination notices only to be later asked to return. Following a previous round of layoffs in February, about 180 employees were readmitted in March. The ongoing situation underscores the turbulent nature of federal public health staffing decisions amid shifting policy priorities.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-hundreds-laid-cdc-employees-reinstated.html