Thousands of federal workers have been laid off as part of the Trump administration's downsizing, including hundreds of young researchers at top health agencies, raising concerns about the nation's ability to respond to future public health crises.
Sheryl Gay Stolberg reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- The National Institutes of Health lost about 1,200 employees, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cut two major training programs for public health graduates and Ph.D. scientists.
- The Food and Drug Administration dismissed about 700 staff, including doctors, lawyers, and experts in medical devices, food safety, and drug regulation.
- The cuts disproportionately targeted early-career scientists and public health professionals, leading experts to warn of long-term damage to the nation's health infrastructure.
Key quote:
“These individuals are not numbers on a spreadsheet. We owe them a debt of gratitude, not a pink slip.”
— Joint statement from eight former top U.S. health officials
Why this matters:
Public health experts are warning that slashing public health jobs weakens the country’s ability to track and control disease outbreaks, regulate food and drug safety, and respond to medical crises. The dismissals come as health officials monitor a lethal bird flu strain and other emerging threats. Cutting training programs for new scientists and health professionals could leave the U.S. without enough skilled experts to handle future pandemics or health emergencies. Experts say these decisions risk undoing years of progress in strengthening public health defenses.
Related: Scientists grapple with funding cuts and political uncertainty
