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By Jesus Mesa and Gabe Whisnant
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Nearly 1,300 probationary employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—approximately one-tenth of its workforce—are being dismissed as part of the Trump administration's directive to eliminate all probationary positions.
The affected employees are expected to receive four weeks of paid administrative leave, though it remains unclear when individual notices will be issued, the source added.
Why It Matters
Historically CDC has been seen as a global leader in disease control and a reliable source of health information, boasting some of the top experts in the world.
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With a $9.2 billion core budget, the CDC is charged with protecting Americans from outbreaks and other public health threats. Before the cuts, the agency had about 13,000 employees, including more than 2,000 staff working in other countries.
The decision comes one day after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in Thursday as President Donald Trump's health secretary following a contentious 52-48 Senate vote. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, is now tasked with overseeing a $1.7 trillion department, including the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What To Know
The leadership of the Atlanta-based agency was verbally notified of the decision on Friday morning by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during a meeting with CDC officials, according to a federal source present at the discussion. The source, who was not authorized to speak publicly, shared details with The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
The CDC's workforce is dominated by scientists—60 percent hold master's degrees or doctorates. However, the majority of employees are not unionized.
Probationary periods apply not only to new hires but also to veteran staff who have recently been promoted into management roles, adding another layer of uncertainty amid the shake-up.
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HHS has not disclosed how these dismissals will impact the CDC's ongoing programs or how the agency plans to adapt to workforce reductions.
Meanwhile, Kennedy has made it clear that his tenure at HHS will prioritize chronic disease prevention and food policy under his 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative. However, experts question how these objectives can be realized in the face of deep personnel and budget cuts.
Kennedy has also been a vocal critic of the CDC's recent leadership, particularly former director Dr. Anthony Fauci. In his 2021 book The Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health, he accuses Fauci of corruption, mismanagement, and favoring pharmaceutical interests over public health.
What People Are Saying
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., at the Senate hearing: "Should I be so privileged as to be confirmed, we will make sure our tax dollars support healthy foods. We will scrutinize the chemical additives in our food supply. We will remove financial conflicts of interest from our agencies. We will create an honest, unbiased, gold-standard science at HHS, accountable to the president, to Congress, and to the American people. We will reverse the chronic disease epidemic and put the nation back on the road to good health."
Dr. Joshua Barocas, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, told reporters on Friday: "It's essentially assuming that they are not in a job that is crucial for the success of keeping everyone safe—just because they've been there for less than a year or less than six months."
Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California posted on X (formerly Twitter) ahead of the confirmation: "RFK Jr. will not make America healthy again. But his ignorance may make people sick again. Deprive them of the treatment they need again. Cause hospitals to close again. We have to vote like our lives depend on it. Because for many Americans – it will."
What Happens Next
The workforce reductions come amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to downsize federal agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, has spearheaded efforts to shrink government spending, offering nearly 2 million federal employees the option to resign while still being paid through September.
A federal judge ruled earlier this week that the buyout plan could proceed.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
Update 02/14/25 1:03 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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