Trump administration announces mass layoffs at HHS: CDC and NIH among hardest hit as 5,200 federal health workers face termination

By bellecarter // 2025-02-19

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The Trump administration plans to terminate approximately 5,200 federal workers from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the CDC and NIH, primarily targeting employees in probationary periods.
The CDC is expected to lose about 1,300 workers, while the exact number at the NIH remains unclear. Leadership changes, including the departures of key figures like Nirav Shah and Renee Wegrzyn, highlight the extensive nature of the shakeup.
Newly confirmed HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is behind the cuts, promising deep reductions and criticizing certain HHS departments for inefficiency and corruption.
Experts warn that the layoffs could disrupt critical public health functions such as outbreak response, vaccine development and disease surveillance, as well as hinder the NIH's ability to fund and conduct vital scientific research.
The termination of a competitive research program for undergraduate students, which trained future biomedical scientists, and the overall brain drain could undermine the U.S.'s global competitiveness in scientific research and public health.

In a significant shift in federal health policy, the administration of President Donald Trump has announced plans to terminate the employment of approximately 5,200 federal workers across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The move, aimed at reducing the size and scope of government, targets recent hires still on probationary employment, a period typically lasting less than one year. The CDC alone is expected to lose about 1,300 workers, while the number of NIH employees affected remains unclear. (Related: CDC IN CRISIS: Trump administration axes 1,300 employees in sweeping government overhaul.) Affected workers will be placed on paid leave for one month but will lose access to work systems by the end of Friday, according to sources. The decision has already led to significant upheaval. Nirav Shah, the CDC's acting principal deputy director, informed staff that his last day would be Feb 28. Additionally, Renee Wegrzyn, the director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), announced on LinkedIn that she had been fired. "For the past two and a half years, I have woken up each day with both excitement and a sense of urgency to build a new and transformative capability for the American people," Wegrzyn wrote. "While today started that same way, it ends such that I no longer have the opportunity to serve as the Director of ARPA-H."

Leadership and structural changes

The mass firings come amid broader leadership changes at HHS, with newly confirmed Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) vowing to make deep cuts across the department. In an MSNBC interview last November, Kennedy criticized certain HHS departments, particularly the nutrition department at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and suggested they were not fulfilling their mandates. He has also promised to fire at least 600 NIH employees, labeling it a necessary step to root out "corruption" within the agency. In a recent X post, Kennedy told FDA employees, "You are part of a corrupt system" and warned them "to preserve their records and pack their bags." Kennedy's stance has intensified concerns among current and former HHS employees. Dr. Lawrence Tabak, the former acting director of NIH, resigned abruptly on Feb. 11, adding to the list of high-profile departures. The abrupt termination of thousands of federal health workers could have far-reaching consequences for public health and scientific research. Experts warn that the mass layoffs could disrupt critical functions, such as outbreak response, vaccine development and disease surveillance. The NIH, which funds research into various diseases and conditions, could see a significant brain drain, potentially hampering its ability to compete globally. One high-level researcher, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concern over the shutdown of a highly competitive intramural research program for undergraduate degree holders, which trains the next generation of biomedical scientists. "These are the best and the brightest to get their training and become world-class scientists to compete with China," the researcher said. The program, which had about 1,600 participants last year, will not fill more than 1,000 positions this year. The Trump administration's decision to fire thousands of federal health workers marks a stark shift in the nation's public health and scientific landscape. While the administration argues that these cuts are necessary to streamline and improve the efficiency of government agencies, critics warn of severe disruptions to vital public health services and scientific research. As the changes take effect, the impact on the CDC, NIH and other HHS agencies will be closely watched, with many experts and stakeholders concerned about the long-term consequences for American health and science. Head over to Trump.news for more stories related to the president's moves to streamline the bureaucracy. What will RFK Jr. do in his first few days as HHS secretary? Watch this video. This video is from the Sanivan channel on Brighteon.com.

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Leadership and structural changes

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