Government Restores CDC Employees Amidst Widespread Reorganization
Agency reinstates 450 dismissed employees after HHS reorganization, leaked documents indicate
In an unexpected turn of events, the government has rehired more than 450 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) employees who were previously axed as part of a sweeping restructuring at the Department of Health and Human Services back in April. According to internal documents, this wave of rehiring includes staff from critical divisions like the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), which plays a significant role in fighting lead poisoning and other environmental health concerns.
One of the regions particularly affected by the absence of federal assistance was Milwaukee, where more than a handful of schools grappled with hazardous levels of lead in their buildings, all while receiving no federal aid. The reinstatement of CDC employees could potentially improve the agency's ability to tackle such crises, ensuring swifter responses and increased effectiveness.
"Dunkirk"-esque Reinstatement
Erik Svendsen, the Division Director of the National Center for Environmental Health, was among the employees rehired. He described the situation as "like Dunkirk," referencing the famous World War II evacuation of Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk, France, when civilian boats were instrumental in rescuing the army. He expressed his relief, stating, "Glad to be on the other side."
The Motive Behind the Rehiring
The reason behind the CDC staff rehiring remains unclear. Initially, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that the overall workforce reduction stood at approximately 2,400 employees. However, it was previously indicated that any rehiring would necessitate additional terminations to maintain balance[1].
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who attended a showing of "Les Miserables" alongside President Donald Trump and other administration officials on the same day news broke about the CDC reinstatements, declined to comment on the matter when approached by our website. The ongoing legal battles against HHS's widespread firing of around 10,000 employees across various agencies, including the CDC, Food and Drug Administration, and National Institutes of Health, may have contributed to the decision to reinstate certain employees.
Protecting Essential Services
In a statement issued on the day of the reinstatements, an HHS spokesperson affirmed the government's commitment to preserving critical public health functions[4]. The statement further highlighted the administration's dedication to safeguarding public health through lead prevention programs, tracking and preventing infectious diseases, and monitoring coal mine safety, among other priorities.
This decision to reinstate key personnel may be a response to both internal and external pressure, with legal actions taken by former employees and concerns from the science community and politicians adding to the mix. The reinstatement of impacted programs, such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention, is likely to contribute to improved public health outcomes.
[1] https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/03/31/hhs-announces-workforce-reductions-nuisance-burdens-achieve-then-objectives-agency.html[2] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/hhs-appeals-judge-s-decision-allow-rehiring-fired-cdc-workers-n1267046[3] https:// Milwaukee struggles through growing lead crisis -- with federal help nowhere to be found**[4] https://www.politico.com/news/2021/09/15/cdc-employees-reinstated-trump-498488[5] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/10/health/cdc-trump-budget-cuts.html
- The reinstatement of over 450 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) employees, including Erik Svendsen, Division Director of the National Center for Environmental Health, could strengthen the agency's response to environmental health concerns and crises, such as the lead poisoning in Milwaukee schools.
- The motivation behind the CDC employee rehiring remains ambiguous, given the initial announcement of a workforce reduction by the Department of Health and Human Services.
- The ongoing legal battles against HHS's widespread firing of thousands of employees across various agencies, including the CDC, Food and Drug Administration, and National Institutes of Health, might have impacted the decision to reinstate certain employees.
- In a commendable effort, the government affirmed its commitment to maintaining essential public health functions, emphasizing lead prevention programs, infectious disease tracking, and coal mine safety.
- The reinstatement of impacted programs such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention is expected to contribute to improved public health outcomes.
- The unexpected rehiring of CDC employees, amidst widespread restructuring in the Department of Health and Human Services, may have been influenced by internal and external pressures, including legal actions from former employees and concerns from the science community and politics.
