WASHINGTON — On Friday, the White House executed a mass termination of staff within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, greatly impacting departments focused on injury prevention, surveillance of respiratory diseases, and chronic disease management, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Estimates suggest that the White House may cut between 1,100 and 1,200 positions at the Department of Health and Human Services. However, the exact number of cuts at the CDC remains unclear. While HHS has not disclosed specific figures, many reports concerning the layoffs have pointed to the CDC. The American Federation of Government Employees highlighted their objection to prior firings of federal workers and announced on social media that they would be filing a lawsuit regarding the overall reduction of government employees. AFGE was unavailable for comment on Saturday.
These layoffs, which could persist throughout the weekend, follow President Trump’s commitment to reducing federal workforce numbers amid an ongoing government shutdown that has entered its third week. Trump has attributed responsibility for the shutdown to congressional Democrats and stated in recent public appearances that these firings, which are atypical during such shutdowns, would predominantly affect “Democrat” initiatives.
A senior official from the CDC, dismissed through the layoffs, contested the framing of these cuts as a natural outcome of the shutdown, arguing instead that it represents a strategic weaponization of the situation.
“The executive branch is exploiting the shutdown to deliberately dismantle leadership within the agency. This initiative is intended to create disorder, demoralize career professionals, and weaken the federal scientific framework essential for safeguarding Americans’ health,” the official stated to STAT. “Describing this as merely a budgetary matter is a falsehood. This constitutes an abuse of power — unethical, unlawful, and extremely perilous.”
The official noted significant reductions in leadership across several centers, leading to the removal of directorial positions within many of them.
“It’s an absolute massacre,” the official conveyed to STAT Saturday, speaking under the condition of anonymity due to ongoing ties with CDC personnel.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has remained largely quiet regarding the recent firings within his department. On Friday, spokesperson Andrew Nixon placed blame for the dismissals on Democrats, characterizing those affected as “non-essential.”
Reports indicate that all personnel from the CDC’s Washington, D.C. office were let go. Terminations also affected staff members from the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance and Technology; Office of Human Resources; the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; Global Health Center; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; Office of Science, which includes individuals responsible for tracking global health threats; the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control; and the CDC library.
Nearly all members of the team responsible for the CDC’s prominent publication, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, have been dismissed. This report is typically one of the first outlets to share information regarding disease outbreaks in the U.S. before it appears in other journals. It also features extensive articles and accompanying pieces addressing public health matters such as drug overdoses, infectious diseases, and tobacco use.
Additionally, most second-year participants of the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), the CDC’s rapid response training initiative, along with their laboratory counterparts from the Laboratory Leadership Service, were also let go. A select few within those programs who belong to the U.S. Public Health Service managed to avoid the layoffs. Both programs had been flagged for potential cuts in earlier workforce reduction efforts initiated by the Trump administration in February, though EIS officers were not subsequently issued layoff notices at that time. Members of the Laboratory Leadership Service encountered similar treatment, being let go but eventually reinstated.
For the dismissed CDC official, the situation holds a personal significance.
“I’ve spent over ten years dedicated to public service — navigating emergencies, pandemics, and everyday preventive measures that quietly save lives. Witnessing the very framework we developed being dismantled under false pretenses is disheartening,” the official elaborated. “This is not merely the loss of a position or title; it signifies the dissolution of trust, continuity, and purpose. I understand the potential of public health when allowed to function effectively. Observing it being systematically taken apart feels like a betrayal of the populace we aim to serve.”
Another CDC worker, who was “not among those illegally terminated,” expressed on Saturday that observing the upheaval faced by colleagues was “truly dreadful.”
“It’s equally emotionally taxing as it is perilous for the American public,” remarked the individual, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid backlash.
The now-dismissed high-ranking official mentioned that those who once directed teams through the Covid-19 pandemic response, as well as efforts concerning the opioid crisis and chronic disease management, now feel betrayed by being labeled as nonessential.
“This represents a deliberate strike intended to undermine a workforce that has already given more than most Americans will ever be aware of,” the official concluded.
The leading health agency in the country has endured significant turmoil, which included the removal of Susan Monarez just 29 days into her role as CDC director, occurring shortly after a gunman unleashed 500 rounds at the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters, resulting in the death of a police officer and leaving staff grappling with unprecedented policy shifts and rising concerns over the politicization of public health. Just days post-shooting, over 150 specialists focused on violence and injury prevention were terminated at the CDC’s Center for Injury Prevention. The latest firings also impacted the Office of Safety, Security, and Asset Management, responsible for agency security.
Since the beginning of the year, the CDC has been subject to cuts from the Trump administration. In April, reductions in force, as part of White House efforts to downsize the federal government, led to a reduction of 2,400 staff members, representing 18% of the agency’s total workforce.
The struggle is far from over, according to the former CDC official, who is urging Congress to exercise its power to restrain the executive branch. In the meantime, the official commended colleagues who are standing firm against these changes.
“This is no longer April 2025. People have awakened. They are organizing, exchanging insights, and cultivating networks across various centers and regions. Federal scientists and staff comprehend what is at stake, and they are not retreating quietly,” the official asserted. “They are pushing back — through lawful actions, solidarity, and transparency. The age of silent erosion is finished.”
