How cuts to CDC are dismantling its capacity to protect Americans’ health

People protest recent layoffs outside the main campus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on April 1, 2025. Elijah Nouvelage via Getty Images

Since the Trump administration took office in January 2025, the workforce at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has weathered uncertainty and change.

Mass firings, communication freezes, political interference in the CDC’s scientific mission and a revolving door of leaders have created a challenging work environment for the CDC’s employees.