The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is rehiring about 460 employees who had previously been laid off, according to an email notice reviewed by The Hill.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed on Thursday that reinstatement notices were sent but provided few other details.
“The Trump Administration is committed to protecting essential services—whether it’s supporting coal miners and firefighters through [the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health], safeguarding public health through lead prevention, or researching and tracking the most prevalent communicable diseases,” HHS said in a statement to The Hill.
“HHS is streamlining operations without compromising mission-critical work. Enhancing the health and well-being of all Americans remains our top priority.”
Fox News first reported that the CDC was rehiring hundreds of workers fired from multiple areas within the agency.
Rehired workers are from four different operational divisions within the CDC: the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention; the National Center for Environmental Health; the Immediate Office of the Director; and the Global Health Center.
The workers were initially fired as part of a broad reorganization and downsizing, as HHS cut as many as 10,000 jobs across various health agencies. About 2,400 employees were laid off at the CDC.
Among those reinstated are about 160 employees at the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health, including people who fought childhood lead exposure and those who worked on cancer clusters.
According to the email seen by The Hill, the agency said it “revoked” the “upcoming reduction in force” notices the workers had previously received, without explanation.
In April, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged that about 20 percent of the layoffs at HHS were a mistake and the plan was always for people to be rehired.
