CDC job cuts spark protest outside Atlanta headquarters
Rally held outside CDC to support employees
A rally was held on Tuesday outside Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta to support the employees who were laid off and other government employees in similar situation.
ATLANTA - A protest erupted outside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Roybal campus in Atlanta Tuesday as employees voiced frustration over sweeping job cuts announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
PREVIOUS STORY: Thousands face dismissal at CDC, other agencies starting today
What we know:
The layoffs are part of a broader effort by former President Donald Trump’s administration to reduce government spending. HHS estimates the cuts will save approximately $1.8 billion annually.
PREVIOUS STORY: 2,400 CDC jobs to be cut in HHS overhaul announced by Secretary Kennedy
Affected workers include researchers, scientists, doctors, support staff, and senior leaders. The decision has drawn backlash from current and former employees who say the process was poorly handled and could have lasting effects on public health and the local economy.
What they're saying:
"There was no input from the leaders of the institution as to how they could at least intelligently try to reduce in force," said one former CDC. "It was done by people who absolutely don’t know what they’re doing."
Another protester emphasized the potential economic fallout, saying, "CDC contributes a great deal of economic impact to Atlanta, to the state of Georgia. And the fact that all these employees are getting cut — it’s going to have a pretty profound effect on the local economy."
Demonstrators say they plan to continue speaking out as the implications of the cuts become clearer in the weeks ahead.