Trump Administration Cuts Nearly 1,300 CDC Employees

Nearly 1,300 probationary employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are being terminated as part of the Trump administration's initiative to eliminate all probationary positions, which amounts to about one-tenth of the agency's workforce. The decision was communicated to CDC leadership in a meeting with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and affected employees will reportedly receive four weeks of paid administrative leave. Critics, including Dr. Joshua Barocas, have raised concerns that these cuts will disrupt essential health services and undermine disease control efforts. This move is part of a broader trend, with other federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Forest Service also laying off probationary staff. The CDC, which has a budget of $9.2 billion, is known for its expertise in public health and disease control. The impact of these layoffs on ongoing public health initiatives remains to be seen.