The news reveals that the leadership of the Atlanta-based agency was informed of a remarkable decision on Friday morning. The message seemed to be verbally notified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, disclosed to the leaders of CDC. The source is an anonymous federal official who attended the meeting. The official said that the affected employees are supposed to receive four weeks of paid administrative leave, but it was not clear when individual workers would receive the notice. With a core budget of $9.2 billion, the CDC is responsible for protecting Americans from outbreaks and other public health threats. Before the cuts, the agency had about 13,000 employees, including more than 2,000 staff working in other countries. Historically, CDC has been seen as a global leader in disease control and a reliable source of health information, boasting some of the top experts in the world. However, now, even experienced employees are facing probationary periods, which seems to be an additional challenge for those newly promoted to management positions. Interestingly, according to Antonio Gaines, president of AFGE National Council 222, this round of layoffs will affect offices responsible for enforcing civil rights laws, compiling data about the housing market, and rebuilding communities after disasters. However, the Federal Housing Administration, which provides mortgage insurance on loans, is excluded. President Donald Trump instructed agency heads on February 11 to ‘undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force’ that focus on firing workers who ‘perform functions not mandated by statute,’ including ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.’ It seems that the Trump administration’s decision this time is another profoundly damaging action against the civil service. Currently, only about 7% of federal employees are under the age of 30, and we need a new generation of employees with the necessary skills to better serve the needs of modern society. By terminating employees simply because they are the most vulnerable, the Trump administration has just thrown away our down payment on the future. Many of those who lost their jobs today were the latest hires in areas of great need for our government, including AI, cybersecurity, and technology. Ultimately, our country will pay a heavy price for this arbitrary dismantling of the civil service.