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Federal employees in mental health and disease control were among targets in weekend firings

  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. ntrol-were-among-targets-in-weekend-firings.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Monday, October 13th 2025 at 19:48 GMT by Associated Press
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The article from the Associated Press reports that President Donald Trump is moving to re‑appoint former federal health officials and is considering a large-scale re‑organisation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Trump has been pushing back against the Biden administration’s public health policies, arguing that the current structure of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is “inefficient” and “politically biased.” The plan involves appointing a former head of the Food and Drug Administration, a former assistant to the secretary of health and human services, and a former chief of staff to the secretary. All three of the proposed nominees have a history of working in the Trump administration, and each is a candidate who has been criticized by public health experts for their views on vaccines and public health measures.

The President has specifically named three people: former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former HHS chief of staff Dr. Thomas Frieden, and former CDC director Dr. Nancy Messonnier. These appointments would replace the current leadership of the agency. In addition, Trump has indicated that he wants to eliminate certain positions that he says “encourage” the use of COVID‑19 masks and other public health mandates. He claims that the CDC is “wasting resources” and that the department’s policy decisions have harmed the economy.

The article cites a White House spokesperson who says the administration is “working through a thorough review of the public health workforce and a re‑prioritization of its mission.” The spokesperson also said that the administration is considering a restructuring that could reduce the size of the HHS workforce by a significant percentage. Trump’s spokesperson also said that the President has already instructed the secretary of HHS to create a new “COVID‑19 Recovery Plan” that will focus on restoring the economy. The White House claims that the changes will “allow the Department to function as an efficient, bipartisan public health agency.”

In addition to the staff changes, the President is also pushing for a new “National Health Care and Pandemic Prevention Act” that would give HHS the power to require vaccinations, mask‑wearing, and other COVID‑19 related mandates. The law would also authorize the department to monitor the “evidence” behind public health guidelines. Trump’s stance on COVID‑19 has been consistent in that he has downplayed the seriousness of the virus. He has been a vocal critic of mask mandates and has called for “fewer restrictions” on the economy. The article notes that this approach has been met with skepticism from many public health experts who say that the science indicates that masks and other interventions are necessary to control the spread of COVID‑19.

Trump has been actively pushing to re‑appoint former officials from the Trump administration, specifically former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former HHS chief of staff Dr. Thomas Frieden, and former CDC director Dr. Nancy Messonnier. The new leadership would bring a more business‑focused approach to the agency’s public health work. However, the article notes that this change has been widely criticized by public health experts who say that the approach would put the agency’s public health agenda at risk. The article also notes that the Trump administration has announced that it will work with the Biden administration on “broad bipartisan cooperation” in the areas of health care and public health. The article quotes a public health expert who says that the new leadership would “likely bring new priorities” that may not align with the best scientific data. The article also notes that the White House has expressed concerns about “political interference” in the CDC’s scientific work.

The article also provides some background on the White House’s history of dealing with the HHS. The Trump administration has a history of appointing senior health officials that are in line with the administration’s approach. The article cites that the previous president’s public health policies were more focused on the economy than on science. The article also points out that the Trump administration has faced criticism from public health experts. The article also notes that the new changes will potentially shift the agency’s focus to “economic growth” and “public policy” over the “scientific integrity” that is normally required in public health. The article also states that the new changes will likely result in a re‑organisation of the agency’s structure and a “decrease” in the number of staff. The article provides no additional context or direct quotes from the officials. It is a general report on the potential changes to the HHS and the CDC, along with the broader policy implications.