CDC cuts expected to devastate Epidemic Intelligence Service, a 'crown jewel' of public health

The Trump administration’s campaign to slash the federal civil service will hit one of the crown jewels of global public health on Friday. Many of the members of the Epidemic Intelligence Service, a legendary training program run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were warned on Friday morning that they were about to be fired, two people with knowledge of the meeting told STAT.

The members of the two-year program were informed that many would be hearing of their dismissals by late day. It is believed there will be few exceptions: people who are in the Public Health Service and military officers who had been on the CDC staff before entering the program. A typical class contains between 60 and 80 members.

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