The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the reinstatement of over 450 employees who were previously laid off as part of the Trump administration’s sweeping workforce reduction efforts. The rehiring process involves multiple divisions within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention (NCHHSTP), which will see the largest number of returning staff. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged that some cuts were made in error, emphasizing the need to restore critical roles, particularly in public health initiatives such as HIV prevention. This move comes after the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) implemented significant workforce cuts, including the elimination of certain departments and the reduction of staff in key areas like the CDC’s World Trade Center Health Program and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The HHS spokesperson highlighted the importance of maintaining essential public health functions while streamlining operations to better serve the American public.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is rehiring more than 450 previously fired employees across multiple divisions within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This brings back staff from four key operational divisions: the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention (NCHHSTP), the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), the Immediate Office of the Director (IOD), and the CDC’s Global Health Center (GHC). The rehiring follows the Trump administration’s initial efforts to reduce the HHS workforce as part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, which led to the layoffs of up to 10,000 employees across various health agencies.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged that some staff were incorrectly cut and emphasized that the administration is committed to correcting these mistakes. He stated,