Trump Admin Fires Thousands of Federal Employees, CDC Lost 10% of Workforce/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Trump administration has begun a mass firing of federal employees across multiple agencies, cutting thousands of jobs. The CDC is losing 1,300 employees, or 10% of its workforce, while the Veterans Affairs Department and U.S. Forest Service have also announced layoffs. Trump and Elon Musk’s efforts to downsize the federal government are accelerating, with agencies like Education, Small Business Administration, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also affected.
Trump Administration’s Federal Job Purge: Quick Looks
- Mass Layoffs Begin: Thousands of federal employees fired across multiple agencies
- CDC Cuts: 1,300 staff—10% of the workforce—let go under Trump’s orders
- Veterans Affairs Impact: 1,000+ probationary employees dismissed
- Forest Service Hit: More than 3,000 terminations planned
- Musk’s Influence: DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) pushing for deeper cuts
- Bureaucratic Overhaul: Education, SBA, CFPB, and GSA also facing job losses
- Trump’s Trade Move: Announces new import taxes, sparking fears of a trade war
Trump Admin Fires Thousands of Federal Employees, CDC Lost 10% of Workforce
Trump and Musk Push for Mass Government Downsizing
The Trump administration has begun a sweeping purge of federal employees, firing thousands of workers across multiple agencies as part of its aggressive efforts to reduce the size of the U.S. government.
Among the hardest-hit agencies:
- The Department of Veterans Affairs confirmed it has fired over 1,000 employees, mostly those in their probationary period.
- The U.S. Forest Service is set to terminate more than 3,000 workers.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been ordered to fire 1,300 staffers—10% of its workforce.
Employees across several agencies—including the Department of Education, Small Business Administration, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and General Services Administration—are also receiving termination notices.
The move aligns with Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, which aims to slash federal employment, cut costs, and restructure bureaucracy.
CDC Faces Major Workforce Reduction
The CDC’s 1,300 job cuts were confirmed Friday morning after agency leadership received verbal notification from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
A federal official who attended the meeting but was unauthorized to speak publicly told The Associated Press that affected employees will be placed on four weeks of paid administrative leave before being officially terminated.
The Atlanta-based CDC, which had about 13,000 employees before the cuts, has long been regarded as a global leader in disease control. The agency plays a critical role in responding to public health threats, with 60% of its workforce holding master’s degrees or doctorates.
While the job cuts focus on probationary employees, some longtime CDC staffers—particularly those recently promoted to managerial positions—may also be affected.
Political & Economic Fallout
Trump’s decision to eliminate thousands of federal jobs has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that reducing the CDC’s workforce could weaken America’s ability to respond to health crises.
Meanwhile, the administration is simultaneously ramping up its trade war efforts. On Thursday, Trump announced that the U.S. will impose new import taxes on any country that levies tariffs on American goods. Experts warn this could ignite a global trade war, further disrupting the economy.
Musk’s Role in Federal Restructuring
Elon Musk, through DOGE, has been one of the driving forces behind these federal job cuts. Musk has claimed that these measures will eliminate inefficiency and streamline government operations, though many critics argue they are purely ideological and risk destabilizing key government functions.
Looking Ahead: More Cuts to Come?
The current wave of layoffs is expected to intensify in the coming weeks. More agencies could see cuts, as Trump and Musk continue their push to reshape the federal workforce.
With the CDC weakened, veterans’ healthcare disrupted, and environmental agencies facing cuts, the long-term impact of these firings remains uncertain but highly consequential.
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