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Just a few weeks after summarily firing hundreds of employees, the Trump administration is now notifying some staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that they're back on the job.
On Tuesday, an unknown number of CDC staff began receiving emails stating that their letters of termination were being rescinded, according to emails reviewed by NPR and interviews with more than half a dozen sources at the agency who were not authorized to speak publicly. "As a result, your physical and logical access has been restored and you are cleared to return to work on Wednesday, March 5, 2025" the email states. "We apologize for any disruption that this may have caused."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff play key roles in preventing and responding to a range of infectious disease threats. Some people fear staff cuts and other changes at the agency under Trump are undercutting this capacity.
As NPR reported, around 750 CDC workers – mostly those who were still in their probationary periods – were fired last month, citing inadequate performance as the justification, even though those who spoke with NPR had records of stellar work. Now, some of those same employees are being asked to return immediately to their previous roles. Staff in several parts of the CDC were rehired, including members of two training fellowships, the Laboratory Leadership Service program and the Public Health Associate Program, as of Tuesday evening.
The reversal has evoked surprise and cautious optimism among recipients that spoke with NPR, though they also have fears for the near future. "They are remarkably good at gaslighting and making people question reality," said one current CDC employee, who had not yet heard whether any of their staff were being rehired.
Tuesday's notices offer no protections against future reductions in force to government agencies, ordered by President Trump last month. Those plans are underway. Agencies are required to submit plans to restructure by the end of next week.
The CDC and Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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