Congresswoman Nikema Williams Calls for the Return of All CDC Employees Laid Off During the Republican Shutdown
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) led 77 Members of Congress in a letter expressing deep concern to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Acting Director James O’Neill following the recent decision by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to lay off employees arbitrarily, including initially 1300 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).While approximately 700 were reported reinstated the next day, roughly 600 remain out of work.
On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Judge Susan Illston in the Northern District of California blocked the Administration from issuing any further reduction in force (RIF) notices or enforcing existing terminations. To comply with this ruling, Congresswoman Nikema Williams is calling for the Trump Administration to reinstate all impacted CDC employees.
The members wrote:
“By firing these employees without cause, you have left critical projects in the lurch. While the terminations of some staff, responsible for the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, staff at the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, and epidemiologists have reportedly been reinstated, others, including those responsible for workplace violence and chronic disease prevention, are reportedly still separated from the CDC.”
“This Reduction in Force comes on the heels of other steps you have taken to diminish the role of the CDC, and to undermine trust in public health.”
“The combination of this month’s RIF, earlier decimation of the CDC workforce, and ascientifc roll-back of public health guidance undermines the critical work of the CDC, and the public health experts and civil servants who serve there.”
Read the full letter here.
Cosigners: Amo, Gabe; Balint, Becca; Beatty, Joyce; Bell, Wesley; Beyer, Donald; Bishop, Sanford; Boyle, Brendan; Carter, Troy; Case, Ed; Casten, Sean; Cohen, Steve; Craig, Angie; Davis, Danny; Dean, Madeleine; DelBene, Suzan; Elfreth, Sarah; Escobar, Veronica; Espaillat, Adriano; Evans, Dwight; Figures, Shomari; Fletcher, Lizzie; Garamendi, John; García, Jesús; Gottheimer, Josh; Hayes, Jahana; Huffman, Jared; Ivey, Glenn; Jackson, Jonathan; Jayapal, Pramila; Johnson, Henry; Johnson, Julie; Kelly, Robin; Kennedy, Timothy; Khanna, Ro; Landsman, Greg; Lee, Summer; Lynch, Stephen; Magaziner, Seth; Matsui, Doris; McBath, Lucy; McBride, Sarah; McClain Delaney, April; McClellan, Jennifer; McCollum, Betty; McGovern, James; McIver, LaMonica; Meeks, Gregory; Mfume, Kweisi; Moore, Gwen; Norton, Eleanor; Panetta, Jimmy; Peters, Scott; Pettersen, Brittany; Pingree, Chellie; Pocan, Mark; Quigley, Mike; Ramirez, Delia; Randall, Emily; Rivas, Luz; Scanlon, Mary Gay; Schrier, Kim; Scott, David; Scott, Robert; Sewell, Terri; Smith, Adam; Swalwell, Eric; Thompson, Bennie; Titus, Dina; Tlaib, Rashida; Tonko, Paul; Underwood, Lauren; Veasey, Marc; Velázquez, Nydia; Walkinshaw, James; Wasserman Schultz, Debbie; Waters, Maxine; Williams, Nikema; Wilson, Frederica