Hundreds of CDC staff rehired by HHS after earlier layoffs from DOGE
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is making headlines once again as it rehires over 450 previously terminated employees from various divisions within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This decision comes following the Trump administration’s extensive restructuring efforts within the agency, which reportedly resulted in up to 10,000 job cuts across various health agencies.
According to an HHS official familiar with the matter, the rehired employees are spread across four operational divisions within the CDC. These divisions include the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention (NCHHSTP), the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), the Immediate Office of the Director (IOD), and the CDC’s Global Health Center (GHC).
This move to reinstate these workers is part of a larger trend of agencies rehiring employees following reductions in force initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Other agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Food and Drug Administration, the State Department, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have also taken similar actions to bring back previously laid-off employees.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. explained the rationale behind the decision, stating, “Personnel that should not have been cut, were cut. We’re reinstating them. And that was always the plan. Part of the — at DOGE, we talked about this from the beginning, is we’re going to do 80% cuts, but 20% of those are going to have to be reinstated because we’ll make mistakes.”
The rehiring process will see the NCHHSTP division welcoming back the largest number of employees, with 214 returning. This division includes the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention, which was reportedly halved by the previous administration. The NCEH division will see 158 employees returning, while the IOD will bring back 71 workers. The CDC’s Global Health Center will have the fewest number of employees returning, with 24 rehired workers.
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon emphasized the importance of maintaining essential public health functions under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership. He stated, “The Trump Administration is committed to protecting essential services—whether it’s supporting coal miners and firefighters through NIOSH, safeguarding public health through lead prevention, or researching and tracking the most prevalent communicable diseases.”
This decision to rehire previously terminated employees is part of HHS’s overall strategy to streamline operations without compromising critical public health work. The agency remains dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of all Americans as its top priority.
The rehiring of these employees reflects a shift in priorities within HHS and underscores the importance of ensuring continuity in essential public health services. This move also highlights the complexities of managing workforce changes within government agencies and the need to balance efficiency with maintaining crucial functions.
