CDC Layoffs Impact Hundreds After Court Ruling

Recently, a federal judge approved layoff notices for hundreds of employees, while apparently protecting some offices within the CDC.

According to a spokesperson from the U.S. Government Employee Federation (AFGE), “We can confirm that around 600 CDC employees have been let go.” The layoffs spanned multiple divisions, including the Violence Prevention Division, EEO, FOIA, Finance Resources Bureau, Chief Information Office, and the CEO’s office.

The timing of these cuts has drawn criticism, especially following a tragic shooting incident at the CDC facility in Atlanta. The AFGE expressed strong concerns, stating, “When we face the next public health crisis, we will do so in a decimated and disrupted workforce.” They accused the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of demonstrating a lack of capability to support the agency after these layoffs, implying that America might not be prepared to back the CDC during critical times.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Melissa R. Dubose revised a prior injunction that had indicated the layoffs could be illegal. She pointed out in her earlier ruling from July that “administrative agencies have no authority to order, organize or implement wholesale changes to the structure and function of the institutions created by Congress.”

Her latest order narrowed the limitations of the initial decision, ensuring that some specific sub-agencies and programs, such as the National HIV Center, viral hepatitis, STD and tuberculosis prevention, as well as the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, were shielded from layoffs. However, this left an unnamed sub-agency vulnerable to cuts.

A spokesperson from HHS confirmed the layoffs, stating that this process had been initiated as part of President Trump’s executive order aimed at improving government efficiency. At that time, HHS indicated a goal of reducing its workforce, which totals about 10,000 full-time employees.