The Trump administration has begun laying off hundreds of employees from key federal health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as part of a series of workforce reductions announced on Friday. Staff members received termination letters over the weekend, with the cuts affecting a range of positions vital to public health and safety.
According to multiple current employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, the number of layoffs was lower than initially expected but still significant. The layoffs targeted staff across various critical roles, including Ph.D.-trained scientists involved in outbreak response, medical device safety experts, and public health workers responsible for controlling the spread of infectious diseases at international airports.
At the CDC, approximately 750 employees received termination letters over the weekend, with agency leadership previously warning that up to 1,300 employees, or 10% of the workforce, could be affected. The layoffs also hit NIH, where between 1,000 and 1,200 staff members were let go, though the numbers were lower than anticipated. Meanwhile, the FDA’s cuts primarily impacted employees involved in medical device research and approvals, with drug approval staff temporarily spared.
The layoffs, which take effect on March 14, 2025, were attributed to “inadequate performance” in termination letters reviewed by NPR. However, many affected employees had strong work records, calling into question the rationale behind the cuts. The letters from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cited a mismatch between employees’ skills and the agencies’ current needs.
Critics of the decision, including Dr. Steve Monroe, a former senior CDC official, argue that these cuts are short-sighted and could undermine the agencies’ ability to respond to future health crises. “These people were filling important roles, and it’s unclear how these decisions were made,” Monroe stated.
The firings have created uncertainty among staff, many of whom are still awaiting clarity on their job status. Some individuals, including those in the prestigious Epidemic Intelligence Service at the CDC, had been told they would be terminated but have not yet received official notification.
The staff cuts have disrupted several essential functions within these agencies. At the FDA, employees involved in reviewing medical devices used to treat conditions like cancer and diabetes expressed concerns that the layoffs could endanger public safety by allowing faulty products to reach the market. At the NIH, significant cuts were made in departments responsible for overseeing grants for extramural research—critical work that supports medical advancements in fields such as cancer and heart disease.
Experts warn that the cuts could have long-term consequences for the nation’s health research infrastructure. Mary Woolley, president of Research!America, emphasized that “patients are waiting; lives are at stake.” The cuts also affected CDC fellows who respond to disease outbreaks and those involved in the Public Health Associate Program, a pathway for recent graduates to enter public health careers.
In particular, CDC staff members who work to prevent the introduction of zoonotic diseases were shocked by the layoffs, as their work is considered essential for national security and public health. Despite receiving awards for excellence, some of these employees were caught in the first wave of firings.
The cost savings from the layoffs are also in question. Patti Zettler, a former HHS deputy general counsel, noted that FDA staff funded by user fees—paid by drug and device manufacturers—are not taxpayer-funded employees. Therefore, the layoffs will not lead to savings for taxpayers, she argued.
In a statement, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon defended the decision, claiming that the layoffs align with the administration’s broader efforts to streamline and restructure the federal government. “This is to ensure that HHS better serves the American people at the highest and most efficient standard,” Nixon wrote in an email to NPR.
As the layoffs continue, the full impact on the nation’s public health capabilities remains unclear. Critics argue that the decisions could undermine the agencies’ effectiveness in addressing future public health challenges, leaving the country vulnerable when it needs skilled experts the most.
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