Morale plummets at the Atlanta-based CDC as staff fear job losses

Staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are on edge this week, as rumors of job cuts circulate. Employees are bracing for a significant reduction in the work force that appears to be targeting those with the fewest worker protections.

Agency staff were notified in emails that all the centers, institutes and offices received a list of their staff members who are in probationary or temporary status, according to a senior CDC official who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on this topic for the agency.

Senior leaders were asked to designate who on the list were mission critical and not mission critical, the source who has direct knowledge of the actions told NPR.