NEW YORK — Recently, the nation’s leading public health agency announced that approximately 180 employees previously laid off are now welcomed back to duty.
On Tuesday, emails were sent to probationary staff from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who had received termination notices last month. This news was confirmed by both current and former CDC employees.
The email, which carried an urgent subject line instructing recipients to “Read this e-mail immediately,” communicated that after additional consideration, the prior termination decision dated February 15 was reversed. Employees were advised to resume their previous work schedule starting Wednesday. The message also included an apology for the inconvenience caused by the earlier decision.
Two federal health officials, who remain anonymous due to lack of authorization to speak publicly, confirmed that reinstatement notices were sent to about 180 individuals. However, it remains uncertain how many returned to their positions immediately and whether they will be exempted from the extensive job cuts anticipated across numerous government agencies.
This reinstatement move follows a pattern seen in other federal departments under pressure, where terminated employees have been called back following cost-cutting measures led by key leaders like President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. Similar employment reversals have occurred in areas addressing medical device oversight, food safety, avian flu management, and national parks, among others.
The CDC, headquartered in Atlanta, is responsible for safeguarding the nation against health crises and potential threats. At full capacity, the agency employs around 13,000 individuals. Initially, the Trump administration indicated that close to 1,300 probationary CDC employees would face termination, but those estimates swiftly adjusted down to an actual count of between 700 and 750 receiving notices.
With the recent reinstatement emails, the number of personnel who might still be out of work closely approximates 550, although this figure hasn’t been officially confirmed by federal health officials.
Last month, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. committed to uphold “radical transparency” within the department. Yet, specific details about staffing changes at the CDC remain undisclosed, as both Tuesday and Wednesday did not elicit any responses from agency officials. Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson, previously remarked that now, despite the job cuts, the CDC employs more full-time staff than it did before the pandemic struck.
The individuals contacted for reinstatement encompassed responders tasked with managing outbreaks across two fellowship initiatives. These programs include a two-year curriculum designed to prepare recent graduates for public health careers and a laboratory initiative welcoming doctorate-level professionals.
U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock acknowledged the relief brought by this development but expressed that more action is necessary. “Today’s announcement is a welcome relief, but until all fired CDC employees are restored, our country’s public health and national security will continue to be at risk,” Warnock, representing Georgia, stated in his announcement on Wednesday.
