Trump Begins Mass Layoffs at FDA, CDC, Other US Health Agencies

The Trump administration began mass layoffs of 10,000 staffers at US health agencies on Tuesday, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation, with security guards barring entry to some employees just hours after they received dismissal notices.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has described the cuts, which combined with other recent departures will reduce total headcount to 62,000 from 82,000, as essential to streamlining a bloated bureaucracy.

Brian King, the head of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products division, was fired, according to an email sent by King to FDA staff seen by Reuters. That followed the ouster of Peter Marks, the FDA's highly regarded top vaccine official.

An FDA staff member said 17 employees in the press office were let go. FDA's Chief Information Officer Vid Desai said he was also let go.

Jeanne Marrazzo, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director who succeeded Anthony Fauci, was fired from her position and offered a job in the Indian Health Service, according to a source who confirmed her departure with sources inside NIH.