In a sudden reversal, CDC rescinds some staff firings

Just a few weeks after summarily firing hundreds of employees, the Trump administration is now notifying some staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that they’re back on the job.

“As a result, your physical and logical access has been restored and you are cleared to return to work on Wednesday, March 5, 2025” the email states. “We apologize for any disruption that this may have caused.”

Now, some of those same employees are being asked to return immediately to their previous roles. The CDC and Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“None of this is normal,” said one CDC employee who received the email stating they should return to work. “There’s no rhyme or reason that I can tell.”

This comes on the same day that the Trump administration has revised a Jan. 20 memo asking federal agencies to provide a list of all probationary employees to the Office of Personnel Management, adding a disclaimer that OPM is not directing agencies to take any specific action.

Staff in several parts of the CDC were rehired, including members of two training fellowships, the Laboratory Leadership Service program and the Public Health Associate Program, as of Tuesday evening.

“I truly don’t understand what happened, but I’m grateful,” said one current CDC staffer.

“They are remarkably good at gaslighting and making people question reality,” said one current CDC employee, who had not yet heard whether any of their staff were being rehired.

Tuesday’s notices offer no protections against future reductions in force to government agencies, ordered by President Trump last month.

Those plans are underway. Agencies are required to submit plans to restructure by the end of next week.