Summary:
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has lost approximately 25% of its workforce (3,000 employees) in 2024 through layoffs and voluntary buyouts under the Trump administration’s “Fork in the Road” program. The latest cuts occurred during government shutdowns, initially affecting 1,300 workers before partial reinstatements. Critical departments impacted include chronic disease prevention, health statistics, and congressional liaison offices. This unprecedented workforce reduction raises concerns about the agency’s capacity to fulfill core public health missions and emergency response capabilities.
What This Means for You:
- Monitor local health advisories as reduced CDC staffing may delay disease surveillance reports and outbreak responses
- Review employer health plans as chronic disease prevention program cuts could affect workplace wellness initiatives
- Contact congressional representatives to advocate for public health funding stability during budget negotiations
- Watch for data gaps in future National Health Statistics reports due to NCHS staffing reductions
Original Post:
After the latest round of mass firings at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the weekend, the union that represents agency employees estimates that around 3,000 people this year—about a quarter of the agency’s workforce—have departed the agency.
That number includes workers affected by layoffs earlier this year, as well those who have accepted the Trump administration’s “Fork in the Road” buyout program.
The most recent cuts came down amid the ongoing government shutdown. On October 10, more than 1,300 CDC employees received termination notices. Soon after, however, about 700 of those people were told via email that they were mistakenly terminated and were not in fact subject to the reduction in force. An estimated 600 people remain terminated.
An additional 1,300 CDC employees are, according to the union, on administrative leave and being paid but not working.
The Trump administration has not shared official numbers of those targeted by the reductions. The estimate was compiled by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2883, which represents CDC workers.
The current round of reductions affects the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the National Center for Health Statistics, the CDC library, the agency’s human resources department, campus safety staff, as well as the CDC’s office in Washington, DC, which acts as a liaison to Congress and provides public health information to policymakers.
“All HHS employees receiving reduction-in-force notices were designated nonessential by their respective divisions,” Andrew Nixon, director of communication at the Department of Health and Human Services, told WIRED via email.
Among those reinstated include staff that publish the agency’s flagship publication, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, as well as leadership in the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases and National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, according to AFGE. Members of the Epidemic Intelligence Service, the CDC’s “disease detectives” unit, were also brought back.
Essential Resources:
- AFGE Union Updates – Tracking workforce reductions across federal health agencies
- HHS Strategic Plan – Shows administration priorities affecting CDC funding
- MMWR Reports – Critical public health data publication impacted by cuts
People Also Ask About:
- How do CDC reductions affect pandemic preparedness? – Fewer disease detectives and surveillance staff reduce outbreak response capabilities.
- What’s a “reduction in force” (RIF) in government? – Permanent separation from federal service due to budget constraints or reorganization.
- Can terminated CDC workers be rehired? – Only if Congress approves new funding and positions are restored.
- Which public health programs face highest risk? – Chronic disease prevention initiatives and national health statistics collection.
Expert Opinion:
“Decimating CDC’s workforce during ongoing health crises represents catastrophic short-term thinking,” warns Dr. Anand Parekh, former HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary. “The 25% staff reduction directly compromises childhood immunization programs, opioid crisis response, and antimicrobial resistance surveillance – core functions protecting Americans daily.”
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