Dozens of public health workers had their jobs reinstated after being notified of their termination just two weeks ago
More than 100 government employees have been ordered to return to work, just weeks after the Trump administration let them go.
Trump Administration U-Turns, Reinstates 180 CDC Employees Just Weeks After Mass Firings
In a stunning reversal, approximately 180 former employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were abruptly summoned back to work on Tuesday (March 4)—just two weeks after being dismissed by the Trump administration.
According to AP reports, the affected staff members were primarily recent hires still on probationary employment. After being informed of their termination, they unexpectedly received an email stating that their employment status had changed once again—and that they were expected to report back to work the very next day (Wednesday).
The sudden decision has left many questioning the administration’s handling of public health staffing, especially as the CDC remains at the forefront of critical health crises in the U.S.
CDC Whiplash: Fired Employees Abruptly Reinstated in Surprise Email from Trump Administration
In yet another unexpected twist, around 180 former CDC employees received a startling email on Tuesday (March 4) with the subject line: “Read this e-mail immediately.”
The message, sent just two weeks after their abrupt dismissal, informed them that after “further review and consideration,” their February 15 termination notice had been canceled.
“You should return to duty under your previous work schedule,” the email read, adding, “We apologize for any disruption that this may have caused.”
According to two federal health officials, the reinstatement applied to staff members from key outbreak response teams and two CDC fellowship programs, which provide hands-on public health training for recent graduates.
This whiplash decision follows the Trump administration’s controversial move in February to slash CDC staffing, initially planning to let go of 1,300 employees before adjusting that number to around 700 to 750. Now, with sudden reversals like this, questions swirl about the administration’s handling of public health workforce stability.
CDC Staffing Chaos Continues Amid Trump Administration’s Cuts
The true extent of CDC layoffs remains uncertain, with estimates now hovering around 550, though officials have yet to confirm an exact figure.
The Atlanta-based agency, tasked with protecting Americans from outbreaks and public health crises, finds itself in unprecedented turmoil as the Trump administration—driven by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—pushes aggressive staff reductions.
Adding to the confusion, it remains unclear how many reinstated employees actually returned to work this week or whether they are shielded from future cuts. The administration’s rapid-fire approach to downsizing has already led to rehires in critical sectors, including medical devices, food safety, bird flu response, nuclear weapons management, and national parks.
In another stunning move, Musk’s task force gutted the Inter-American Foundation, an independent US foreign aid agency, leaving just one staff member to oversee its operations. As DOGE’s relentless cost-cutting continues, questions linger about the stability of vital public services.
Massive Federal Job Cuts Loom as DOGE Targets More Agencies
A leaked memo suggests that Veterans Affairs (VA) could be the next major casualty of the Trump administration’s sweeping federal workforce reductions, with 80,000 jobs at risk. The VA has already lost 1,000 employees, and concerns are mounting over the potential impact on services for America’s veterans.
At the same time, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is reportedly setting its sights on slashing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) workforce by half, potentially eliminating 90,000 positions. Additional reports indicate that 3,000 jobs could be cut from the Forest Service, while 5,000 employees have already been removed from national parks, forests, and federal lands, according to The Guardian.
The latest shake-up at the CDC comes as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vows “radical transparency” in government operations. Meanwhile, CDC spokesman Andrew Nixon defended the agency’s staffing levels, stating that the organization actually employs more full-time staff now than it did before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The sudden reversals have drawn political backlash. U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) welcomed the reinstatement of some CDC employees but warned: “Until all fired CDC employees are restored, our country’s public health and national security will continue to be at risk.”
