Washington, Oct 12, 2025 — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) walked back hundreds of layoff notices just hours after they were sent, following internal confusion during a sweeping reduction-in-force carried out in the middle of the federal government shutdown. Early counts suggested ~1,300 CDC employees were told they’d be terminated, with “hundreds” subsequently rescinded the same day, according to Reuters and follow-up reports.
What changed
- Rescinded notices: By Saturday evening, CDC had reversed hundreds of terminations, with some outlets reporting specific units confirming rehiring or withdrawals of RIF letters.
- Why the reversal: Internal accounts point to errors in how positions were coded and designated during the hurried RIF process; HHS has begun rehiring select staff affected by the mistake.
Who was hit first
Several core CDC programs were initially targeted, including:
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
- Global Health Center
- Public Health Infrastructure Center
- Washington office
- Personnel pipelines like Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) and Laboratory Leadership Service fellows
These areas reported terminations ranging from senior leaders to “disease detectives,” before some actions were rolled back.
The bigger picture
The moves at CDC are part of broader federal downsizing during the shutdown. HHS (CDC’s parent department) indicated 1,100–1,200 HHS employees were being laid off, with other agencies also affected. Unions (AFGE, AFL-CIO) have challenged the RIFs in court, and agency totals remain fluid.
Why this matters
Temporary or permanent losses inside immunization, disease surveillance and global response programs risk disrupting outbreak monitoring (measles, Ebola), MMWR publication workflows, and state support for labs and data systems—functions that depend on specialized staff and continuity. Even with rescissions, attrition and uncertainty can slow responses.
What’s next
- Headcounts pending: HHS/CDC have not released a final ledger of who was terminated vs. rehired; reporting suggests ongoing adjustments.
- Operational impact watch: Public health partners are tracking whether essential outputs (e.g., surveillance reports, guidance) see delays in the coming weeks.
- Legal challenges: Union lawsuits could alter or slow further RIF steps across HHS.
Quick facts (as of Oct 12)
- Initial CDC layoff notices: about 1,300; hundreds rescinded within hours.
- HHS system-wide layoffs: ~1,100–1,200 so far during shutdown.
- Units initially affected: NCIRD, Global Health, Public Health Infrastructure, EIS, LLS, Washington office.
- Reason for some reversals: coding/eligibility errors during RIF process.