The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the layoff of approximately 600 staff members following a revised order from a federal judge. The cuts are across various departments, including the Division of Violence Prevention, equal employment opportunity, open records law compliance, the Office of Financial Resources, and the offices of the chief information and chief operating officers. The cuts were expected after U.S. District Judge Melissa R. DuBose scaled back the scope of an initial ruling finding broad layoffs unlawful. The AFGE criticized the timing of the firings, taking place soon after the fatal shooting at the CDC’s offices in Atlanta. The union argued that the CDC has shown insufficient organizational or operational capacity to take over the support functions that the agency had before the firings. The firings also fueled anger among HHS employees, who claim Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s rhetoric against vaccines and public health workers undermined their work. Over 750 current and former employees sent Kennedy a letter calling on him to stop “spreading inaccurate health information” and protect public health professionals in the wake of the shooting.
The CDC has completed approximately 600 layoffs. Enilsa Brown 41
