What we know so far about mass layoffs

Thousands of federal health care workers were laid off this weekend, starting with a wave of Friday afternoon emails targeting recent hires across the NIH, CDC, and other agencies. By Saturday evening, the wave had hit the FDA. Others — across the Indian Health Service, the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service program, and elsewhere — are still bracing for impact.

An all-star team of STAT reporters tracked the weekend's developments, speaking to people at the agencies and those recently dismissed. They report that among those fired were people who inspect pharmaceutical manufacturing inspectors, drug and device reviewers, and some of those building regulations for the use of artificial intelligence in medical care. Others were working on Medicare and Medicaid improvements, while still more were on a program to improve maternal health care. FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones resigned over the weekend, Food Fix reported.

Top officials were told Friday to expect roughly 5,200 dismissals across the agency. While the exact figure appears to be lower, for now, multiple current and former staffers told STAT reporters that the cuts would be deeply felt and could hobble health care priorities. Read more.

Are you, your department, or your field affected by firings at federal health agencies? Share your experience with us.

Medical Research

Former NIH director: Layoffs 'devastating' for future research

As news of the layoffs spread, STAT's Anil Oza spoke with Monica Bertagnolli, who until recently led the NIH, and the National Cancer Institute before that. Bertagnolli told Anil that one of her top concerns in the "devastating" elimination of agency jobs is potentially losing the next generation of scientists funded by federal research dollars or employed as NIH fellows.

Bertagnolli also spoke about where she saw opportunities for NIH and her former colleagues to work with the Trump administration, particularly on chronic diseases, and her resolve that common ground can be found. Read the Q&A.

The data breakdown

Tracking the CDC data upheaval

In the weeks since President Trump took office, the CDC has removed at least 135 datasets and other files from its public data platform, according to a STAT analysis. The removals appear to be part of an effort to scrub out language that has been deemed objectionable by the Trump administration.

STAT's J. Emory Parker started archiving all available files and datasets on the CDC website in late January. An analysis of the data deleted since Inauguration Day shows the word "gender" has drawn particular attention. Some of that data has since returned, following a court order.

Emory's analysis shows the website changes have been far-ranging. Between Nov. 25, 2024, and Jan. 31, at least 61 items appear to have been removed without scheduled plans, while 34 new items were added. See the numbers.

at the agencies

Column: The Trump 'fear factor' reshaping medical research

The Trump administration didn't waste time shaking up medical research funding, federal health agencies' purviews, and the thousands of employees who staff the agencies. While the effects of the latest actions are still reverberating, the resulting fear among career staff could reshape the government as much as the actions themselves, Matthew Herper writes.

That angst and uncertainty is likely to lead to more departures in these agencies, as civil servants decide it is finally time to find better-paying work in the private sector, some current and former officials warn. That even could be part of the incentive for DOGE-fueled layoff mandates. More from Matt.

Budget talks

House braces for debate on Medicaid cuts

In a party-line vote late Thursday, the House Budget Committee passed a budget blueprint that tees up the debate over tax cuts and how to pay for them — which could spell cuts to Medicaid, John Wilkerson reports.

There's a lot of pressure to make big cuts to government spending, especially with Republicans calling for permanent tax cuts. So while the bill does not mention Medicaid by name, it does direct the House committee overseeing Medicaid to come up with $880 billion in cuts. Medicaid policies account for a lot of those options — especially since GOP members have promised they won't slash Medicare or Social Security programs.

During a Thursday hearing on the plan, Republicans shifted between insisting the budget resolution doesn't target Medicaid, and criticizing Democrats for expanding the program. More from John.

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What we're reading

Bird flu found in Arizona milk suggests another spillover from birds to cows, STAT
How Trump's medical research cuts would hit colleges and hospitals in every state, New York Times
First Opinion: A physician and author's 1984 tribute to the NIH feels all the more valuable today, STAT
Why states are tackling physicians' concerns about mental health treatment, The Washington Post