Nearly 10,000 federal employees were laid off on Friday in a sweeping move that reflects a significant restructuring of the US government under the direction of President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk. Among those most affected are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where about 1,300 employees – roughly 10% of its staff – have lost their jobs, including all first-year officers in the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), a key program established in 1951 to train doctors and researchers in disease investigations.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the CDC, has confirmed the layoffs but has remained vague about the specifics of the process. According to a source familiar with the situation, most of HHS’s 5,200 probationary employees were expected to be fired, while some specialist staff could potentially be spared. Affected employees were notified by email, and some were provided four weeks of paid administrative leave.
HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon said the layoffs are part of a broader initiative to “streamline” and “reorganize” the federal government, aimed at providing higher efficiency and better service to the American people. HHS, which manages more than 80,000 employees and multiple agencies, plays a critical role in public health, including food safety, regulating vaccines and providing health coverage through programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
The cuts to the CDC are particularly worrisome, as it is the cornerstone of the nation’s public health defense. The loss of 1,300 employees, including many from key response units such as EIS, could severely hamper the agency’s ability to respond to future health crises. One CDC employee, speaking anonymously, expressed concern that the cuts would reduce the agency’s ability to investigate disease outbreaks at a time when such expertise is critical.
As federal agencies are being significantly restructured, the long-term impact on the government’s ability to address public health and other challenges remains to be seen. #donald trump #trump #elon musk #elon #news #viralnews #pentodaynews #pentodaymedia #pentodaygroup #pentoday #internationalnews
Mass layoffs by federal agencies under the direction of President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk affect thousands of employees.
