As the government shutdown dragged into another tense weekend, the Trump administration delivered a jolt to the nation’s public health infrastructure, laying off more than 100 employees at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and initiating sweeping cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The sudden reduction in force, which unfolded late on Friday, October 10, 2025, has left experts, agency staff, and mental health advocates reeling—and searching for answers about the impact on the nation’s fragile behavioral health and disease surveillance systems.
According to NPR, employees at SAMHSA were notified of their termination shortly before 8 p.m. ET. The layoffs, which one internal source described as shocking and confusing, affected approximately 125 workers out of the agency’s 900-strong staff. “I think the general feeling today is shock—and not understanding why?” one agency source told NPR, echoing the bewilderment that swept through the ranks after the late-night notifications landed in inboxes.
SAMHSA, created in 1992 through bipartisan legislation signed by then-President George H.W. Bush, is tasked with overseeing the nation’s new 988 suicide prevention hotline and distributing billions in grants for mental health and addiction services. According to both NPR and BERITAJA, the agency managed a 2024 budget of around $7.5 billion, with the vast majority of those funds funneled directly to states to support behavioral health programs. The grants, as University of Missouri-Saint Louis psychologist Rachel Winograd told NPR earlier this year, “are the backbone of behavioral health in this country. If those grants were to go away, we’d be screwed.”
The layoffs come in the wake of President Donald Trump’s proposal to slash SAMHSA’s budget as part of his so-called Big Beautiful Bill. Earlier in 2025, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to consolidate SAMHSA’s duties into a new entity, the Administration for a Healthy America—a move that, at the time, drew skepticism from mental health advocates who feared it would disrupt services and upend established programs.
“Despite having what many see as an essential role in protecting the nation’s mental health, SAMHSA has not been viewed favorably by the current administration,” NPR reported. The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees SAMHSA, did not respond to requests for comment on the layoffs or the rationale behind the selection of employees for termination.
But it wasn’t just SAMHSA that saw its workforce slashed. The CDC, long regarded as the nation’s bulwark against infectious disease outbreaks and chronic health threats, also suffered staff cuts on Friday evening. Two CDC employees, speaking to NPR and BERITAJA on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the layoffs hit key offices responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak forecasting, chronic diseases, and immunization and respiratory diseases. “If you wanted to weaken America’s public health capacity without saying it outright, this is how you’d do it—remove the people who connect the dots, steady the ship, and keep the public informed,” one laid-off CDC official told NPR and BERITAJA.
The New York Times also reported that among those let go were two senior officials charged with overseeing the CDC’s measles response team, underlining the breadth of the cuts and the potential ramifications for ongoing public health efforts. The Department of Health and Human Services again did not respond to requests for comment regarding the CDC layoffs.
Yet, the situation at the CDC took an unexpected turn on Saturday, October 11. In a surprising reversal, some employees who had received layoff notices found their terminations revoked. According to a letter seen by NPR and BERITAJA, Tom Nagy, the Chief Human Capital Officer at HHS, wrote to at least one employee: “Your Reduction in Force is hereby revoked.” The exact number of CDC employees who received such reprieves remains unclear, but the incident has added to the confusion and uncertainty gripping the agency.
The timing of these layoffs—during a protracted government shutdown—has only heightened anxieties. With federal funding for public media also eliminated by Congress, as LAist reported, the cuts have come amid broader debates about the role of government in supporting public health and independent journalism. LAist underscored the importance of reader support to sustain watchdog reporting, noting the loss of $1.7 million in annual public funding for its newsroom alone.
For many observers, the layoffs at SAMHSA and the CDC are more than just another round of bureaucratic belt-tightening. They represent, as one CDC official put it, a calculated weakening of the nation’s public health capacity at a time when disease surveillance and mental health services are more vital than ever. The 988 suicide prevention hotline, for instance, has been hailed as a critical lifeline for Americans in crisis—a service now overseen by an agency facing dramatic staff reductions.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s plan to fold SAMHSA’s responsibilities into the new Administration for a Healthy America is still in the early stages, and details remain scant. Critics worry that the transition could disrupt services, delay grant disbursements, and create gaps in care for those struggling with mental illness and addiction. The uncertainty surrounding the future of SAMHSA’s programs is palpable among advocates and state officials who rely on federal grants to maintain local behavioral health initiatives.
Meanwhile, the CDC’s ability to monitor disease outbreaks and respond to public health emergencies is, according to affected staffers, at risk of being compromised by the loss of experienced personnel. The reversals of some layoffs on Saturday provided a glimmer of hope—but also underscored the chaotic nature of the process and the lack of clear communication from leadership.
As the shutdown continues, the fate of hundreds of public health workers and the programs they support hangs in the balance. The broader implications for the nation’s mental health and disease prevention efforts remain to be seen, but the sense of uncertainty is unmistakable.
In the end, the layoffs at SAMHSA and the CDC serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of the nation’s public health infrastructure—and the lasting consequences that political decisions can have on the well-being of millions of Americans.
