CDC Reinstates 460 Laid-Off Employees Amid Ongoing Organizational Turmoil
Key Insights
The CDC (search) has reinstated approximately 460 employees who were previously laid off during recent organizational restructuring efforts under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Around 200 of the rehired workers belong to the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention (search), with additional staff returning to environmental health and STD (search) testing laboratories.
The reinstatements follow employee protests at CDC (search) headquarters in Atlanta and come amid broader controversy over Kennedy's dismissal of the entire vaccine advisory panel.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reinstated approximately 460 employees who were previously terminated during recent organizational restructuring, according to union representatives, marking a significant reversal in the agency's staffing decisions under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The reinstatements come after a tumultuous period that included employee protests at CDC (search) headquarters in Atlanta on Tuesday, where current and retired workers criticized steep staffing and budget cuts enacted in recent months.
Major Divisions See Staff Returns
Around 200 of the rehired employees belonged to the CDC (search)'s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention (search), according to reporting from The Associated Press. Staff at laboratories that test for sexually transmitted diseases have also been reinstated, along with approximately 150 employees at the CDC's National Center for Environmental Health (search).
The reinstatements represent a substantial portion of the workforce that had been affected by the recent layoffs, which impacted employees across multiple critical public health divisions including cancer prevention, infectious disease readiness, overdose prevention, and global health.
Pattern of Reversals Across HHS
This marks the second major reversal of termination decisions within the Department of Health and Human Services. On Monday, the FDA reinstalled its generic drug policy office after previously clearing the team out. Since Kennedy's reorganization sweep in March, the FDA has also brought back dozens of fired employees, including those involved in making travel arrangements for inspectors and negotiating the regulator's user fee programs.
The rehiring decisions follow updated guidance from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which stated that agencies have "ultimate decision-making authority over, and responsibility for," personnel matters. The American Federation of Government Employees (search) has urged agencies to rehire affected workers.
Employee Advocacy and Protests
Tuesday's protest at CDC (search) headquarters drew criticism of the organizational changes, with demonstrators calling for Kennedy's resignation and urging the appointment of a new CDC director. Anna Yousaf, a researcher at the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (search), characterized Kennedy as "a domestic health threat" during the demonstration.
In a letter to Kennedy and CDC (search) leadership, terminated employees argued their dismissals violated due process requirements and emphasized their qualifications and dedication to the agency's public health mission. The employees noted that the CDC had previously determined their positions were important to the agency's mission and had identified them as the most qualified candidates through rigorous hiring processes.
Ongoing Organizational Challenges
The reinstatements occur amid broader controversy over Kennedy's decision to dismiss all 17 members of the CDC (search)'s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (search) (ACIP). Kennedy subsequently named eight new ACIP members, many of whom have documented histories of vaccine skepticism.
Many of the originally terminated employees faced a Friday deadline that would have officially ended their employment status and paid administrative leave, making the Wednesday reinstatements particularly significant for those affected by the organizational changes.