Trump Cuts CDC Workforce Amid Broader Federal Reductions

The Trump administration has enacted significant workforce reductions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), laying off nearly 1,300 probationary employees, which constitutes about 10% of the agency's total workforce. This decision is part of a broader federal effort to streamline government operations, targeting probationary workers across various health agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The cuts have raised concerns about the potential impact on the CDC's ability to respond to public health threats, as affected employees include members of the critical Epidemic Intelligence Service. The layoffs were communicated to the CDC leadership by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with affected staff receiving four weeks of paid administrative leave. The action aligns with the Trump administration's broader restructuring goals, but has sparked criticisms considering the CDC's role as a leading global public health authority.