Hundreds of Firings Reversed at The CDC

The article from The Guardian reports that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has rescinded over half of the termination notices that had been issued to employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Originally, roughly 1,300 CDC staff were slated for dismissal as part of workforce reductions during the government shutdown.

Over the weekend following the initial announcement, more than 650 of those termination notices were reversed, meaning those employees are now being reinstated, according to multiple sources including Axios and Reuters. Around 600 employees remain terminated.

Among those reinstated were members of the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS)—often called “disease detectives”—and personnel associated with the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a key scientific publication of the CDC Two infectious-disease experts leading federal responses to a measles outbreak had their dismissal notices reversed soon after being notified.

The administration attributes the mistaken firings to a coding error and misclassification of employees as “nonessential.” A senior official was quoted saying that incorrect notifications went out and have since been remedied.

The firings had drawn strong criticism. Activists and public health experts warned that mass terminations threatened U.S. health security. Gregg Gonsalves, an epidemiologist, called them an “assault on the health and lives” of Americans, citing the administration’s lack of care in deciding who to fire. T

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing federal workers, has filed suit against the administration, aiming to block these RIF (reduction in force) measures across agencies. The government reportedly stated that layoffs would affect over 4,000 federal employees, and a federal judge in San Francisco is expected to hear arguments.

This turmoil at the CDC follows a recent wave of internal disruptions: a gun attack at its headquarters in Atlanta, the abrupt firing of a newly appointed CDC director by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and resignations from senior public health leaders alleging political interference and censorship of scientific processes. Monarez, the dismissed CDC director, had accused Kennedy of directing her removal because she failed to align with his vaccine agenda and also claimed he labeled the CDC “the most corrupt federal agency in the world.”

Several former leaders and staff have publicly decried what they see as damage done to the agency’s credibility and scientific independence. One former CDC official characterized the treatment of staff as akin to an “abusive partner” — taking back abuse does not erase harm.

In sum, while more than half the firings have been reversed, approximately 600 people remain terminated—and the fallout in terms of morale, institutional trust, and public health continuity remains a serious concern.

Key Points

Rescission of over half the firings — More than 650 of ~1,300 termination notices reversed.
Affected units reinstated — EIS members and staff working on the Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report were among those recalled.
Cause claimed — Administration cites a coding error and misclassification of roles as “nonessential.”
Legal pushback — AFGE sued to block the terminations across agencies; ~4,000 federal employees may be impacted.
Broader CDC turmoil — The agency has been shaken by leadership upheavals, political interference allegations, and public criticism of science suppression.
Warnings from public health experts — Many argue the firings—and even their reversal—have damaged U.S. public health readiness and morale.

Projections & Implications for the Future

Institutional trust and morale will take time to recover. Even though many are reinstated, the shock sends a message about job security and politicization in public health. This could lead to talent attrition, difficulty recruiting, and self-censorship among staff.
Legal and administrative precedent will matter. The outcome of the lawsuit could set benchmarks for how aggressively future administrations can restructure federal health agencies during shutdowns or political realignments.
Public health continuity may be compromised. Sudden staffing losses (even if reversed) might delay surveillance, research, or response to emergent disease threats—especially if workflows were disrupted during the interim.
Political oversight of scientific agencies will be under sharper scrutiny. The episode adds fuel to debates over how much control executive branch appointees should have over science policy and agency leadership.
Congress may respond with oversight or legislation. Expect increased hearings, demands for accountability, or potentially laws to shield scientific agencies from abrupt political interference.
Longer term reputational damage. The CDC’s credibility may suffer not only domestically but abroad; partner nations and institutions may question reliability, especially if future actions are perceived as politically driven.
Future administrations will tread carefully — or more aggressively. Some may be deterred from such sweeping firings; others might view this as proof of the ability to reshape scientific institutions by executive fiat.

References

“Firings of hundreds of CDC employees reportedly reversed” — The Guardian The Guardian
Related media: Axios, Reuters, New York Times (as reported in the Guardian) The Guardian