The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is reeling from significant staff reductions as over 1,000 employees received layoff notices during the ongoing government shutdown. The Trump administration has faced backlash for mass firings, with numerous reports indicating that many of these layoffs may have been enacted in error. As the CDC struggles to maintain critical public health programs, officials are working to rehire key experts who were let go, particularly those involved in vital disease tracking and epidemic response. Critics, including RFK Jr., have condemned the layoffs as detrimental to public health, while some in the administration have acknowledged that the extent of the cuts could impact global health initiatives significantly.