The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump has laid off hundreds of employees from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including specialists responsible for key public health functions, NBC reports, citing sources within the agency.
According to the network, among those dismissed were dozens of employees from the CDC division responsible for epidemic preparedness. A representative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated that the layoffs were part of a broader strategy by the new administration to reduce the number of government employees.
Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House was working on an executive order that would authorize mass layoffs within the Department of Health and Human Services.
