CDC Scientist Fired During Shutdown Calls Experience ‘Like Squid Game’ Episode

A former scientist from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has voiced severe concerns regarding recent layoffs amid the ongoing government shutdown. The scientist, who worked at the CDC for ten years, highlighted the potential consequences of these job cuts on public health.

Concerns Over CDC Layoffs

Amid the third week of the government shutdown, the Trump administration has laid off over 4,000 federal workers, including approximately 600 from the CDC. The affected employee emphasized the threat these cuts pose to public health, noting, “It’s going to mean more deaths, more preventable deaths.”

Legal Intervention

A verbal order from a federal judge in Northern California has temporarily halted all layoffs initiated since the shutdown began. This ruling stems from a lawsuit by federal employees’ unions and leaves the fate of the laid-off CDC employees uncertain.

Impact on CDC Programs

• The layoffs have affected all staff at CDC offices in Washington, D.C.
• Programs crucial to public health, such as the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention, have been significantly impacted.
• The CDC’s ability to respond to outbreaks has been hampered due to the loss of essential personnel.

Statistics on Workforce Reductions

This year’s workforce cuts at the CDC have seen about 3,000 employees leave, which is nearly 25% of the total staff. The impacted employees include those from various essential divisions, including injury prevention and control and chronic disease programs.

Leadership Changes and Challenges

New leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has intensified the agency’s issues. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who assumed leadership earlier this year, controversially dismissed key members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices. Following complaints about pressure to support vaccination decisions, CDC director Susan Monarez was also dismissed.

Implications for Public Health

The former CDC scientist expressed alarm at how these ongoing changes might influence responses to significant health threats. For instance, a recent measles outbreak in South Carolina has raised concerns that reduced CDC effectiveness could lead to larger outbreaks. Currently, five new cases have been reported, affecting 139 students who are now under quarantine.

With the uncertainty surrounding the layoffs and restructuring at the CDC, many fear that America’s public health system is ill-prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. “It’s truly like an episode of ‘Squid Games,’ because we don’t know what’s going to happen next,” the scientist remarked.