More than 450 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) employees have been rehired after being laid off during a sweeping restructuring at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in April, according to internal documents obtained by ABC News.
Key Reinstatements
Among the divisions reinstated is the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), which oversees children’s lead poisoning prevention efforts. The division had faced backlash after its cuts left several Milwaukee schools without federal support amid hazardous lead levels.
Over 120 staff were rehired to the NCEH, which also monitors environmental threats such as wildfire smoke and radiation. “It’s like Dunkirk… Glad to be on the other side,” said NCEH Director Erik Svendsen.
Other reinstated branches include:
- The National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
- The CDC’s Global Health Division, which maintains operations in roughly 60 countries
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which monitors coal mine and firefighter safety
Context and Fallout
The April cuts affected about 2,400 CDC staff and were part of broader layoffs impacting an estimated 10,000 employees across HHS, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. Lawsuits challenging the layoffs are ongoing.
HHS has not clarified why the rehiring occurred, though public and political pressure played a key role. Officials previously stated that any rehires would be offset by additional terminations.
In a statement, HHS said under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., “the nation’s critical public health functions remain intact and effective.” A spokesperson added that the Trump administration is committed to restoring key programs that support public and occupational health.
The dismissals have drawn sharp criticism from scientists and some Republican lawmakers whose states were directly impacted by the cuts.
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