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HHS Caps CDC Bonuses, Shifts Funds, Faces $200M Settlement

5/23/2026

43 10 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

HHS capped CDC and ATSDR performance awards at 40 % of their budget, shifting 60 % to incentive awards.
The new structure cuts top-rated CDC employees’ average bonus from 4 % to about 2.58 % of basic pay.
A CDC staff union estimates the agency could spend roughly $200 million to settle a surge of disability-related EEOC complaints.
OPM advised agencies to use special-act awards to recognize employees who identify fraud, waste or improve efficiency.

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Story summary

HHS capped CDC and ATSDR performance awards at 40 % of their budget, shifting 60 % to incentive awards.
The new structure cuts top-rated CDC employees’ average bonus from 4 % to about 2.58 % of basic pay.
A CDC staff union estimates the agency could spend roughly $200 million to settle a surge of disability-related EEOC complaints.
OPM advised agencies to use special-act awards to recognize employees who identify fraud, waste or improve efficiency.