RFK Jr.’s CDC Shakeup Sparks Outrage, Fears of Public Health Crisis
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. initiated mass layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services, including over 1,000 scientists and health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as part of a broader effort to shrink the federal workforce. This move was met with sharp criticism from former CDC officials who expressed concerns about the impact on disease outbreak responses and public health functions. However, after the article’s publication, many of the fired employees began receiving notices that their terminations were rescinded, attributed to a “miscoding error” by an HHS official. Despite the reinstatement, the damage done is already significant, as several high-level positions were cut, and the agency’s ability to respond to public health emergencies is in jeopardy.
John Q. Hosedrinker