The CDC layoff reversal comes as a boon for many, but there is still considerable uncertainty regarding the future of their employment at the agency. The US government shutdown is still underway, and it has resulted in considerable confusion among federal employees who have received conflicting news about their state of employment. After the firing of hundreds of Centers for Disease Control (CDC) employees who “were designated non-essential by their respective divisions” last week, the White House soon announced that the firings were being walked back for some of their numbers.
The CDC’s layoff reversal strategy is reportedly an attempt to correct an error that allowed “incorrect notifications” to be sent out to workers. (Image: Freepik)
The CDC’s Layoff Reversal Strategy Comes as A Relief, but Tensions Remain High
Last week, the government announced that, as a result of the shutdown, which has been ongoing for over 13 days, thousands of workers across federal agencies were set to be let go. The employees were determined to be non-essential to the agencies, which was disheartening news for the workers who had survived through previous rounds of job cuts from earlier this year.
Between 1,100 to 1,200 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reportedly received layoff notices on Friday, with a separate court filing indicating 4,000 federal workers overall had been laid off.
Now the CDC’s layoff reversal solution will see over half of the termination notices rescinded. Unfortunately, the CDC’s staff cuts and departmental purge will still result in 600 employees out of work. There are no clear numbers for exactly how many CDC firings have been reversed or if employees from other departments have been rehired just yet.
According to the New York Times, some of the CDC staff being rehired are believed to be from the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, and other members of the team responsible for compiling the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The decision to undo the layoffs just a day later led to considerable confusion among staffers who were uncertain about what to believe.
A “Coding Error” May Be to Blame for the Incorrect Firings
No official clarification has been provided for the decisions to walk back the CDC firings, but the general reasoning appears to be a miscalculation within the department, with hasty notifications being sent out. Sources told ABC News that the mistake could have occurred due to a “coding error.” Another administrator reported that the employees were sent “incorrect notifications” due to a glitch in the system, but that the issue has been promptly resolved.
Both employees and outsiders were alarmed by the confusion caused by the CDC’s layoffs and the prompt reversal of the decision. “Did they not care enough to find out who they were firing and what they did before sending termination letters? The carelessness and callousness with which this administration handles life and death matters is unbelievable,” Gregg Gonsalves, an epidemiologist and member of Defend Public Health, told The Guardian.
As Some CDC Staff Are Rehired, the Future of Other Federal Employees Remains Uncertain
While some of the agency’s shutdown firings are being reversed, the CDC biodefense cuts remain. As the HHS continues on its plan to close “wasteful and duplicative entities” and bring down the headcount of the workforce, concerns have been expressed regarding the agency’s operations and ability to keep up with the growing healthcare challenges across the country. Similar cuts across the private sector have also contributed to the rising concerns about the future of healthcare.
Earlier reports also stated that some federal employees were being furloughed, such as those in the IRS. Due to the halting of operations, this news did not come as a surprise, but we have since seen reports emerging regarding the possible backtrack on back pay to employees. All of these issues have collectively led to chaos and uncertainties, particularly at the CDC, which has already witnessed layoffs and a shooting that made workers afraid to return to in-person work.
Communication and clarity are key at this juncture, as the changes occurring within the HHS have been demoralizing for many workers. Workplace survivor’s guilt can catch any organization off guard, but its effects can be further pronounced when employees remain wary of being fired and rehired at a moment’s notice.
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