CDC rehires some employees after layoffs, amid reorganization

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is rehiring employees after previously laying them off amid the agency's reorganization, reportedly bringing back about 460.

The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed on Thursday that reinstatement notices were sent but didn't specify the number of employees or for which divisions.

“The Trump Administration is committed to protecting essential services—whether it’s supporting coal miners and firefighters through [the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health], safeguarding public health through lead prevention, or researching and tracking the most prevalent communicable diseases,” HHS told The Hill news outlet.

“HHS is streamlining operations without compromising mission-critical work. Enhancing the health and well-being of all Americans remains our top priority.”

An email notice reviewed by the media outlet said the number of employees being rehired is about 460 employees.

An HHS official told Fox News that rehired workers come from four different operational divisions within the CDC: the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention; the National Center for Environmental Health; the Immediate Office of the Director, and the Global Health Center.

According to the email reviewed by The Hill, the agency said it “revoked” the “upcoming reduction in force” notices the workers had previously received, but didn't provide an explanation.

The workers were initially laid off amid HHS' reorganization and downsizing, in which it cut as many as 10,000 jobs across various health agencies. About 2,400 CDC employees were laid off.  

"Personnel that should not have been cut, were cut," HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in April. "We're reinstating them. And that was always the plan. Part of the – at DOGE, we talked about this from the beginning, is we're going to do 80% cuts, but 20% of those are going to have to be reinstated, because we'll make mistakes."