CDC Workforce Reels From Firings, Funding Cuts

Morale plummets at the public health agency after a tumultuous year of layoffs and budget reductions.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:00am

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A former employee at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Sarah Boim, has a stack of documents from her time at the agency, which has faced a year of firings, funding cuts, and a workplace shooting that have severely impacted morale among the CDC workforce.

Why it matters

The CDC is a critical public health agency responsible for monitoring and responding to disease outbreaks, and its ability to effectively carry out its mission has been undermined by the recent turmoil, raising concerns about the nation's overall preparedness for future health crises.

The details

Boim, who was let go from her CDC job last year, said the agency has been rocked by a series of events that have demoralized employees, including dozens of firings, budget reductions that have forced program cuts, and a shooting incident at the CDC's Atlanta headquarters that left one employee injured.

  • Boim was let go from her CDC job last year.
  • The shooting incident at the CDC's Atlanta headquarters occurred recently.

The players

Sarah Boim

A former employee at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

A leading national public health institute in the United States responsible for protecting public health and safety through the control and prevention of disease, injury, and disability.

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What they’re saying

“The morale at the CDC is really low right now. People are just demoralized and feel like their work is not being valued.”

— Sarah Boim, Former CDC Employee

The takeaway

The turmoil at the CDC raises serious concerns about the agency's ability to effectively carry out its critical public health mission, underscoring the need for stable funding and support to ensure the CDC can respond to future health emergencies.