Fired CDC employees press RFK Jr. to reinstate them
Dozens of former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees have made a plea to agency leaders to be reinstated after being laid off due to shifting guidance from the government office. The workers, who were in their probationary period at the CDC, account for about 14% of the staff who were terminated on Valentine’s Day as part of widespread cuts across federal agencies. These employees were previously working in divisions responsible for overseeing critical areas such as cancer prevention, foodborne diseases, infectious disease readiness, overdose prevention, global health, and more.
As the deadline approaches for these workers to lose their paid administrative leave and be officially fired, they sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as well as CDC leadership, requesting to avert their impending termination. The letter argues that the termination process did not follow due process requirements and should be deemed unlawful. The workers urge HHS to uphold high standards of accountability, transparency, and lawful professional conduct in handling their cases.
While the U.S. Office of Personnel Management has clarified that agencies have the authority over personnel matters, they have not reversed the layoffs. The American Federation of Government Employees has also called for the reinstatement of the terminated workers. The letter to Kennedy highlights these developments and emphasizes the workers’ dedication to the CDC’s public health mission and commitment to serving the American people.
Although some agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and CDC have rehired some of the laid-off employees, many others remain uncertain about their future in an already competitive health and science job market. The workers are hopeful that their plea will be considered, and they can resume their important roles in contributing to public health initiatives.
This article was supported by a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the financial supporters had no involvement in the editorial decisions.
