The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday notified approximately 180 employees who were laid off two weeks ago that they can return to work, according to The Associated Press.
Two federal health officials briefed on the tally, but not authorized to speak publicly, told the AP that roughly 180 people received emails saying their Feb. 15 termination notices had been rescinded.
“Read this e-mail immediately,” read the subject line of an email seen by the AP. The email added that “after further review and consideration,” the employee was cleared to return to work Wednesday.
“You should return to duty under your previous work schedule,” the email read. “We apologize for any disruption that this may have caused.”
Current and former CDC employees told the AP that the emails were sent to some CDC probationary employees who received termination notices last month. It was not clear how many of those employees returned to work on Wednesday.
Administration officials told the CDC last month that nearly 1,300 of its probationary employees would be cut, but only approximately 700 to 750 employees ended up receiving termination notices.
The total number of terminated employees has not been confirmed by federal officials, but with the 180 reinstated employees, the tally likely sits at approximately 550.
Amid legal challenges, several agencies have had to reinstate terminated employees after they were cut in President Trump’s and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s efforts to eliminate waste in the federal government.
The Associated Press contributed.
