Confusion reigns within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an organization that seeks to foster certainty in public health.
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is dedicated to planning and disseminating research that informs various public health policies, extending from nutrition to environmental health. It is perhaps most recognized for its reports based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which now faces an uncertain future after approximately 1,300 employees, including key staff involved in NHANES, were issued layoff notices on October 10. Although nearly 600 of those layoffs were rescinded, some planners within this division remain affected.
However, recent reports indicate that these individuals have been unable to access their work emails, and the issue extends beyond just the federal government shutdown, sources informed STAT.
STAT has reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services for comments.
Denys Lau, former director of a division responsible for monitoring health care provision and utilization, remarked to STAT, “The challenges faced by those affected by the RIF — these are individuals with families — adds to the strain on the remaining NCHS staff who must shoulder the unfinished responsibilities. It will take two to three generations to repair the damage caused.”
An HHS representative previously stated that those involved in planning roles had not been terminated, yet multiple sources have confirmed that layoff notices were indeed issued. STAT has reviewed communications confirming job losses.
Former leaders from the planning branch and other NCHS divisions estimate that around 100 positions were cut, including the director and deputy director of the vital statistics division (which manages birth and death data) and one officer from the Epidemic Intelligence Service working within the NHANES division, along with all 15 personnel in the planning and operations branch of the healthcare statistics division. Only a minority of these employees were called back.
What is the role of NCHS?
The planning staff involved with NHANES play a crucial role within a broader initiative, primarily ensuring the survey’s successful execution. Other planners throughout the agency oversee budgets, contracts, data security, privacy protection for participants, outreach efforts, clear communication, and various administrative functions necessary for organizational operation.
“NCHS encompasses much more than just NHANES,” stated Jennifer Schoendorf, former director of research and methodology at NCHS and now senior deputy editor at the American Journal of Public Health. “With the loss of vital staff in these behind-the-scenes areas critical to data collection, I am concerned that numerous barriers may arise.”
In addition to the NHANES planning team, the impact of RIFs has been felt across:
- The entire office of planning, budget, and legislation — responsible for communicating with Congress, monitoring policies, and ensuring sustained funding.
- Research units within the division of research and methodology, which include the mathematical statisticians and behavioral scientists who validate survey questions for reliability and accuracy.
- Planning branches supporting health care surveys.
- The administrative and management team tasked with handling timesheets, travel, and HR support.
Why is this significant, and why now?
The current government shutdown and resultant furloughs may obscure the immediate consequences of these job cuts, according to Schoendorf.
“If the government were operating, the fallout from these RIFs could be devastating. The time spent attempting to understand the situation and adapting to vacant roles would be extensive,” she noted. “This delay means that vital health data required for making informed decisions regarding health priorities would be unavailable. Even if the planning groups for the two survey programs are reinstated, the gaps in management, IT, publications, budgeting, and research will hinder the programs significantly.”
Maintaining Objectivity in Data
NCHS has a federal mandate to keep its reports impartial, as it is a part of the umbrella statistical system alongside entities like the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Bureau of Justice Statistics. Lau, now the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Public Health, expressed concerns that if the data processes drift away from this impartial framework, ensuring the scientific validity and political neutrality of NCHS findings could become challenging.
Lau expressed confusion over the decision to lay off personnel within the small statistical agency.
“These individuals are essential for assessing the impacts of federal policy changes being implemented by this administration,” he stated. “Don’t they want to know if their changes are making America healthier? Without objective, nonpartisan data from NCHS, they simply cannot.”
A judge in San Francisco has issued a temporary restraining order preventing any further RIFs during the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has now entered its third week. While RIFs and rescissions may seem momentary, some employees who experienced layoffs on February 14 found their terminations reversed, only to face layoffs again on October 10, followed by another retraction.
“It is disorienting and disheartening to feel that your job can be taken away at any moment,” Lau expressed.
STAT’s coverage of chronic health issues is supported by a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Our financial supporters have no influence over our journalism decisions.
