Rebuilding a Demoralized CDC: Overcoming Firings, Funding Cuts, and a Shooting
After mass layoffs, a government shutdown, and a shooting, the CDC workforce struggles to recover. This in-depth analysis explores the agency's path forward amid low morale and disruption.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the federal agency charged with protecting public health, has endured a tumultuous year. Mass firings, funding cuts, and a devastating shooting have left the organization and its workforce demoralized. Yet, as the CDC grapples with these challenges, there is a growing sense of determination to rebuild and reclaim its role as a global leader in disease prevention and response.
The turmoil began in March 2025, when Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced sweeping changes across multiple government agencies, including the layoff of thousands of CDC employees. The decision, touted as a cost-saving measure, was met with widespread criticism and protests from the public health community.
Source: NPR
