Public Health

As measles exploded, officials in Texas looked to CDC scientists. Under Trump, no one answered.

A measles outbreak struck earlier this year, just as changes made by the incoming Trump administration affected the Centers for Disease Control's response, agency personnel said.

HHS the latest to cancel union contracts and implement Trump’s order

The decision seemingly contradicts the Office of Personnel Management’s guidance not to terminate collective bargaining agreements while litigation challenging the edict progresses, though it was recently amended only to prohibit NTEU contract terminations.

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‘It’s just too much’: CDC employees have faced layoffs, vaccine misinformation and now — violence

A shooter who recently attacked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s headquarters was upset about the COVID-19 vaccine, police said.

Trump illegally froze 1,800 NIH medical research grants, Congress’ watchdog says

The Government Accountability Office said the cancellation of $8 billion in NIH grants was a violation of the Impoundment Control Act and the Constitution.

Deep staff cuts at a little-known federal agency pose trouble for droves of local health programs

The Health Resources and Services Administration has lost approximately a quarter of its staff between February and June, challenging its ability to provide grant funding to public health programs across the nation.

Federal judge deems Trump administration’s termination of NIH grants illegal

In a ruling issued Monday, the judge called the government’s directives “arbitrary and capricious” and ordered funding for some of the NIH grants, including many profiled by ProPublica in recent months, to be restored.

CDC has shed one-quarter of staff even as it recalls some laid off workers

Agency tells court that states are not suffering "irreparable harm" from cuts even as agency leaders lament "operational disruptions" and "loss of expertise and capacity."

NIH director bemoans RIFs, mocks ‘5 things’ email and says agency shoulders blame for COVID outbreak in first address

New agency head also says some laid off employees may be recalled, including to help address supply shortages at labs and medical centers.

Exclusive

CDC to cut one employee for each it is recalling from layoffs

The agency returned around 300 staff and plans to soon cut an additional 300 in response.

HHS recalls some previously laid off worker safety employees

Elsewhere, the department is issuing new RIFs for each employee it brings back.

19 states sue Trump administration over mass layoffs at HHS

States argue key programs on which they have relied are no longer operating and ask the court to reinstate workers.

Former NSF heads criticize funding and staff cuts at science agency

Former National Science Foundation and National Science Board leads sent a letter to congressional leadership saying the cuts to the agency run contrary to the Trump administration’s priorities.

Trump laid off nearly all the federal workers who investigate firefighter deaths

At least two-thirds of the employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health were notified on April 1 that they had been laid off or will be in June. That includes almost all of the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program.

How cyber vulnerabilities and workforce cuts threaten the crisis lifeline program

A bipartisan, bicameral measure is hoping to prevent cyber incidents from limiting access to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline after a 2022 attack on a system operator disrupted calls to the hotline.

Deep cuts hit HHS tech offices

Current employees say that dramatic cuts to leadership and career staff within FDA and HHS have left critical projects at risk.

Public Health Service officers would receive military leave benefits under bipartisan bill

The Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service is one of the uniformed services, which are associated with the armed forces, but don’t receive the same paid leave benefits.