Story perspectives

CDC Director Launches Staffing Gap Plan After Layoffs

8/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

CDC Director Erica Schwartz announced a strategic planning process to identify staffing gaps and push urgent hires.
She said the agency lost about a quarter of its workforce through layoffs and voluntary separation incentives.
Employees reported fear of retaliation and burnout after the Aug. 8, 2025 shooting and recent layoffs.
Schwartz said she will try to regain trust with vaccine-skeptics after President Donald Trump’s executive order reducing childhood vaccines.

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Story summary

CDC Director Erica Schwartz announced a strategic planning process to identify staffing gaps and push urgent hires.
She said the agency lost about a quarter of its workforce through layoffs and voluntary separation incentives.
Employees reported fear of retaliation and burnout after the Aug. 8, 2025 shooting and recent layoffs.
Schwartz said she will try to regain trust with vaccine-skeptics after President Donald Trump’s executive order reducing childhood vaccines.