CDC IN CRISIS: Trump administration axes 1,300 employees in sweeping government overhaul

The Trump administration fired approximately 1,300 employees, or 10% of the workforce at the CDC, as part of a broader effort to eliminate 5,200 probationary positions across the HHS.

The firings were announced on Feb. 14, and targeted probationary workers who can be dismissed more easily without violating civil service protections. Employees were given four weeks of paid administrative leave.

Critics argue that the cuts jeopardize America’s ability to respond to public health crises, citing the dismissal of members of the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), a program that trains top doctors and health professionals to respond to disease outbreaks.

The administration claims the cuts are necessary to streamline government operations, but critics warn of potential consequences for federal agencies’ capacity to operate effectively and protect public health.

The downsizing efforts extend beyond the CDC and NIH, affecting other agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, leading to concerns about the broader implications for government efficiency and accountability.

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the public health community, the Trump administration has fired approximately 1,300 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), representing roughly 10% of the agency’s workforce. This mass dismissal is part of a broader effort to eliminate 5,200 probationary positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the National Institutes of Health(NIH). While the administration claims these cuts are necessary to streamline government operations, critics argue that the move jeopardizes America’s ability to respond to public health crises.

The firings, which were announced on February 14, 2025, come as part of President Donald Trump’s aggressive campaign to “restructure and reshape” the federal government. Employees were given four weeks of paid administrative leave before their termination, with notifications delivered abruptly on the morning of Valentine’s Day. The administration has targeted probationary workers—those with less than a year of service—because they can be dismissed more easily without violating civil service protections.

”READ FULL ARTICLE: https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-02-15-trump-axes-1300-cdc-employees-government-overhaul.html