Weekend Firings Target Federal Mental Health and Disease Control Staff | PRIMENEWSNOW

Federal Workforce Faces Major Reductions Amid Government Shutdown

NEW YORK (AP) – Over the weekend, numerous federal employees involved in mental health, disease control, and emergency readiness were affected by significant layoffs initiated by the Trump administration. This move was intended to pressure Democratic lawmakers to resolve the ongoing government shutdown, which has lasted nearly two weeks.

Impact on Health and Human Services

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) experienced a substantial workforce reduction starting Friday, adding to the turmoil caused by the shutdown. This comes just half a year after a previous round of layoffs. Many employees were already disconnected from their duties due to the shutdown.

Confusion ensued over the weekend when more than half of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) employees who received layoff notices were informed that these notices were sent in error, and they remained employed.

Agencies Affected by Staff Reductions

HHS, which is responsible for monitoring health trends, managing disease outbreaks, and overseeing health insurance programs, saw staff cuts across several agencies. These included the CDC, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), according to current and former employees.

Health professionals expressed concerns that these layoffs could hinder the ability of HHS agencies to meet their congressional mandates.

HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon stated that the layoffs targeted nonessential employees and aimed to eliminate redundant entities that conflicted with the administration’s health agenda.

While Nixon did not specify which agencies were affected or the number of employees laid off, a court filing from the Trump administration estimated that between 1,100 and 1,200 of the nearly 80,000 HHS staff received dismissal notices.

CDC Layoffs and Reversals

Approximately 600 CDC employees remained laid off as of Monday, following the initial targeting of hundreds more, according to the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2883, representing CDC workers in Atlanta.

Out of over 1,300 CDC employees who received layoff notices on Friday, about 700 later received emails retracting their terminations, the union reported.

The union criticized the action as a “politically-motivated stunt” that unlawfully targeted agency workers.

“These reckless actions are disrupting and destroying the lives of everyday working people, who are constantly being used as bargaining chips,” stated AFGE President Yolanda Jacobs.

A federal health official, speaking anonymously, attributed the incorrect notices to a system glitch.

Among those initially dismissed and then reinstated were the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service officers, known for their critical role in responding to public health threats, according to Dr. Anne Schuchat, former principal deputy director of the CDC.

Reductions in Mental Health Services

SAMHSA, an HHS agency focused on mental health and addiction, also faced layoffs, as reported by two employees familiar with the situation.

While the full extent of the layoffs was unclear, affected departments included the Office of Communications and the Center for Mental Health Services, where numerous staff were let go.

Within the Center for Mental Health Services, a branch responsible for managing millions in grants for community health clinics was largely dismantled.

Dakota Jablon, a public health analyst and former SAMHSA employee, warned that the loss of staff could have “devastating ripple effects” across the behavioral health sector.

Dr. Eric Rafla-Yuan, a psychiatrist and chair of the Committee to Protect Public Mental Health, expressed concern that these cuts could jeopardize state safety nets for individuals with mental illness, as SAMHSA provides crucial funding and support.

Ongoing Restructuring Efforts at HHS

The recent layoffs follow a previous wave of reductions six months ago, which saw thousands of HHS employees, including researchers and senior leaders, either laid off or opting for early retirement.

Before the shutdown, HHS staffing was just under 80,000, a decrease of over 2,000 from earlier in the year.

These cuts are part of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s initiative to restructure the department by consolidating agencies overseeing billions in addiction services and community health centers under a new office, the Administration for a Healthy America. This plan has faced delays due to legislative challenges and congressional opposition.