In a dramatic shift at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the agency has seen a mass exodus of employees, with approximately 3,000 workers—about a quarter of its total workforce—departing this year alone. The departures, caused by a combination of recent layoffs, earlier rounds of terminations, and buyouts, have left the CDC in a state of turmoil, with significant disruptions to its ability to carry out its public health mission.
Recent Firings and Layoffs Impact Thousands
The latest round of terminations, which took place on October 10, affected over 1,300 CDC employees, many of whom were in critical positions. However, a significant number of workers—about 700—were later informed via email that their terminations had been a mistake, and they were not included in the reduction-in-force (RIF) process. Despite the confusion, approximately 600 employees remain terminated, with another 1,300 employees placed on administrative leave, still receiving pay but not performing work.
This latest round of cuts comes amid a broader pattern of reductions at the CDC that have been occurring throughout 2025. Earlier this year, more than 2,000 employees were affected by layoffs and the Trump administration’s controversial “Fork in the Road” buyout program. According to the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2883, which represents CDC staff, the current workforce reductions represent a significant blow to the agency’s ability to manage and respond to public health crises.
While the Trump administration has not officially released specific numbers related to the RIFs, the union estimates that around 3,000 positions have been eliminated this year, which is approximately 25% of the agency’s staff. The cuts affect a wide range of departments, including those focused on chronic disease prevention, health statistics, and public health research. The CDC’s library, human resources department, and campus safety staff have also been targeted for reductions.
Impact on Critical Public Health Functions
The latest cuts have had a profound impact on the CDC’s ability to carry out its public health functions. The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, one of the most important divisions of the CDC, has seen significant staff reductions. Additionally, the agency’s office in Washington, DC, which serves as a liaison to Congress and provides crucial public health information to policymakers, has been affected by the layoffs.
The union estimates that the reductions will result in delayed public health responses, compromised research efforts, and a loss of institutional knowledge. These cuts could undermine the CDC’s ability to respond to health crises such as infectious disease outbreaks, chronic disease prevention, and emergency preparedness.
In a statement to WIRED, Andrew Nixon, the director of communications at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), emphasized that all employees receiving RIF notices were designated as “nonessential” by their respective divisions. However, the lack of transparency regarding the selection process and the sweeping nature of the cuts have raised concerns among public health experts and union leaders alike.
A Changing Leadership Landscape at the CDC
The CDC’s ongoing restructuring and workforce reductions are compounded by leadership instability within the agency. Since HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took office in February 2025, the agency has seen a series of high-profile resignations and terminations. Among the most notable departures was that of CDC Director Susan Monarez, who was fired after just one month on the job. Monarez had been appointed by the Trump administration but was reportedly pressured by Kennedy to approve new vaccine recommendations “regardless of the scientific evidence.”
Monarez’s departure set off a chain reaction of resignations, with senior officials in key departments, such as the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases and the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, stepping down shortly after. Among the most notable of these was Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, a respected public health expert, who resigned in protest of the direction Kennedy was taking the agency.
The mass firings and reshuffling of leadership have created a vacuum at the CDC, with few experienced public health professionals remaining in top positions. According to Abby Tighe, the executive director of the National Public Health Coalition, a network of current and former HHS professionals, the CDC is now facing a crisis of leadership and expertise. “There are very few people left in leadership at the agency. We know that at the highest level of leadership in the CDC, there are no public health or medical professionals left to help guide CDC recommendations,” Tighe explained.
The loss of experienced staff and leadership has left the CDC vulnerable, especially at a time when public health threats like pandemics, infectious disease outbreaks, and climate-related health crises are increasingly common. Critics argue that the mass firings and the weakening of the CDC’s leadership could have far-reaching consequences for the agency’s ability to effectively respond to future health emergencies.
Controversial Changes to Vaccine Policy
One of the most controversial aspects of the current changes at the CDC has been Kennedy’s efforts to overhaul vaccine policy. Early this year, Kennedy removed all 17 sitting members of the federal vaccine advisory committee, replacing them with individuals who are seen as more sympathetic to vaccine skepticism. Several of these new appointees have openly criticized public health measures related to COVID-19 and expressed concerns about vaccine safety, which has raised alarm among health professionals and scientists.
Kennedy’s changes to the vaccine advisory committee come as the CDC has struggled to maintain trust with the public regarding its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccine misinformation and hesitancy have become major barriers to achieving widespread vaccination coverage, and the changes at the CDC have only fueled concerns that the agency may no longer be acting in the best interest of public health.
Union Response and Calls for Reversal of Firings
The AFGE, which represents thousands of federal employees, has been vocal in its opposition to the mass layoffs and firings at the CDC. Union leaders argue that the terminations are “illegal” and “callous,” and they have called for all reduction-in-force notices to be rescinded immediately. The union also points out that it was not given proper notice of the upcoming layoffs, a requirement under federal law.
Yolanda Jacobs, president of AFGE Local 2883, criticized the lack of transparency and communication from the Trump administration. “Many of these cuts have been made without sufficient explanation to understand the reasoning behind them,” she said. Former CDC officials, including John Brooks, the former chief medical officer of the CDC’s HIV/AIDS division, have echoed similar concerns. Brooks described the mass firings as a “reckless” move that threatens the very foundations of public health in the United States.
What Does the Future Hold for the CDC?
The ongoing restructuring and turmoil at the CDC raise significant questions about the future of the agency. With a quarter of the workforce gone, experienced leadership in short supply, and a changing approach to public health policy, the CDC is facing challenges that could affect its ability to protect and promote public health in the years ahead.
As the situation unfolds, the agency’s ability to respond to emerging health threats—whether they be infectious diseases, chronic health issues, or environmental health crises—will likely be tested. The loss of institutional knowledge, combined with a shift in priorities at the highest levels of leadership, may make it harder for the CDC to fulfill its mission.
For now, public health experts, healthcare workers, and concerned citizens alike are watching closely to see how the CDC can navigate this crisis and rebuild its credibility and capacity to safeguard the health of the nation.
