CDC layoffs: Two fired employees among 1,300 let go in government overhaul
Fired CDC worker turns to food stamps, unemployment
Fired CDC workers are telling their stories. Carolyn Corrigan is a highly educated woman with a decade's experience working in the government. Recently fired, she says she's struggling to make ends meet. Like many others in her position, she says she's turning to public assistance like food stamps and unemployment during this time of uncertainty.
ATLANTA - Two workers for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are speaking out about being let go as part of the DOGE overhaul of the federal government.
They were among the 1,300 employees laid off recently.
What we know:
Both employees were notified by email on February 15.
One employee was taking leave for the birth of their second child as part of the Family and Medical Leave Act when she was notified by email. That child is now 6 weeks old.
Both women say their termination letters falsely described them as having "poor" performance at work when their evaluations had been above average.
What we don't know:
Might either be reinstated to their position?
One is working with the American Federation of Government Employees; the other is working with the office of Special Council.
What they're saying:
Fired employee Carolyn Corrigan works remotely and has applied for food stamps, Medicaid, and temporary assistance to get her rent paid.
Both women say Elon Musk wields too much power and is not compassionate about the families behind the numbers he is crunching.
The other side:
Republican strategist Brian Robinson says the Trump Administration was trying to make drastic changes before anyone could stop or derail its efforts. He says both Trump and Elon Musk indicated there would be pain as they reduce the size of government.
What's next:
Both women will be looking for new jobs.
One of them, Janessa, has five degrees.
Fired under DOGE cuts after 5 degrees, baby
Janessa, a former CDC worker who was fired under Elon Musk's DOGE cuts, says she has spent much of her time lately in tears. She says if she was given the opportunity to talk to Musk, she would tell him not everything can be run by AI.
SEE ALSO:
- Atlanta federal employees return to office amid confusion over controversial email
- Georgia Democrats address CDC cuts at capitol news conference
- Rep. McCormick faces heated town hall over Trump's budget cuts and CDC layoffs
- CDC lab leadership program, which trains scientists, hit hard by federal layoffs
- CDC to lose nearly 1,300 probationary employees under Trump's job cuts
The Source: FOX 5’s Aungelique Proctor talked to current CDC employees, the two fired ones, and Republican strategist Brian Robinson for this story.