Politics

Coding Error Chaos: How Trump’s Layoffs at CDC Triggered a Legal Battle and Left Hundreds in Limbo

CDC reinstated ~700 of 1,300 laid-off staff after a coding error. Hundreds still face job loss, linked to the shutdown.

October 12, 2025, 1:35 PM

Angled shot of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sign against a cloudy blue sky.

This low-angle view highlights the main sign for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, located at its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. By University of College / Shutterstock.com.

Executive Summary

More than half of the approximately 1,300 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staffers initially laid off by the Trump administration have been reinstated, with the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) attributing the incorrect notices to a “coding error.”

Key CDC personnel, including staff for the *Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report* and the incident commander for the measles response, were among those mistakenly fired and subsequently reinstated, though roughly 600 CDC workers remain separated.

These layoffs are part of President Trump’s broader Reduction in Force initiatives, which he linked to the government shutdown and publicly stated targeted “Democrat-oriented” federal workers, with the legality of these firings being challenged by a lawsuit impacting over 4,100 federal employees across multiple departments.

The Story So Far

The layoffs at the CDC, though largely attributed to a “coding error” by HHS for many of the affected staff, are part of President Trump’s broader Reduction in Force initiatives. Trump publicly linked these initiatives to the ongoing government shutdown, stating his intention to fire federal workers in retaliation, which has led to widespread uncertainty and legal challenges for thousands across multiple agencies.

Why This Matters

The widespread, albeit largely erroneous, layoff notices impacting thousands of federal workers, including critical CDC staff involved in disease response and public health infrastructure, underscore the vulnerability of essential government functions to administrative errors or politically motivated actions. While many have been reinstated, the ongoing legal challenge to President Trump’s Reduction in Force initiatives, publicly linked to the government shutdown and targeting “Democrat-oriented” employees, creates significant instability and uncertainty for the federal workforce across multiple agencies.

Who Thinks What?

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) attributed the initial layoff notices for reinstated CDC staff to a “coding error,” stating these individuals were never officially separated from the agency, while President Trump linked the broader Reduction in Force initiatives to the government shutdown, targeting “Democrat-oriented” federal workers.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) confirmed the reinstatement of approximately 700 CDC workers but noted that roughly 600 remain separated, challenging the legality of the firings during a government shutdown and filing a lawsuit impacting thousands of federal workers across multiple departments.

The situation has caused instability for the CDC, with crucial staff involved in the *Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report* and the measles response among those mistakenly fired and reinstated, while other staff in areas like Violence Prevention programs and the Office of the Director of the Injury Center remain separated.

More than half of the approximately 1,300 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staffers initially laid off by the Trump administration late Friday have been reinstated. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) confirmed that about 700 workers received notifications of reinstatement by Saturday, while roughly 600 remain separated from the agency. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) attributed the incorrect layoff notices to a coding error.

Andrew Nixon, director of communications for HHS, stated that the employees who received the erroneous notifications were never officially separated from the agency. These individuals were informed of the glitch on Friday or Saturday, confirming their continued employment. The reinstatements followed a widespread round of layoff notices that impacted thousands of federal workers across multiple departments.

Among those reinstated are staff crucial to the agency’s flagship journal, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, according to Dr. Debra Houry, who recently resigned as the CDC’s chief medical officer. Athalia Christie, the incident commander for the current measles response, which has seen 1,563 cases in the US this year—the highest in a quarter-century—was also among the employees mistakenly fired and subsequently reinstated.

Reinstatements also occurred at the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, the Global Health Center, and the Public Health Infrastructure Center. The Public Health Infrastructure Center manages over $3 billion in grants aimed at strengthening local public health workforces across 107 state and local governments. Additionally, Epidemic Intelligence Service officers, known as “disease detectives” who often lead responses to health threats, received notices that their firings were in error.

The layoffs are part of President Trump’s Reduction in Force initiatives, which he publicly linked to the ongoing government shutdown. President Trump stated late Friday that he intended to fire “a lot” of federal workers in retaliation for the shutdown, specifically targeting those he deemed “Democrat-oriented.” He did not elaborate on the criteria used to identify such workers.

The legality of these firings during a government shutdown has been challenged by the AFGE, which filed a lawsuit shortly after the Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought announced the layoffs on X. Court filings indicate that more than 4,100 federal workers were impacted by these cuts across various departments, including Commerce, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Homeland Security, and Treasury, in addition to HHS.

Despite the widespread reinstatements, some CDC staff remain separated from the agency. This includes employees in the CDC’s Washington office, its Violence Prevention programs, and the Office of the Director of the Injury Center. These ongoing separations contribute to a period of instability for the agency, which also saw high-level resignations in August, including Dr. Houry and previously confirmed CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez.

Ongoing Uncertainty for Federal Workers

The situation at the CDC reflects a broader, volatile landscape for federal employees amidst the government shutdown and the Trump administration’s reduction in force efforts. While many employees have been reinstated due to what HHS termed a “coding error,” hundreds still face job losses. The legal battle over the legality of these firings continues, adding to the uncertainty for thousands of federal workers across multiple agencies.