HHS moving to fire probationary employees again, officials say

The Department of Health and Human Services is once again taking steps to terminate probationary employees at the nation’s health agencies, as confirmed by multiple federal officials. This move comes after previous termination attempts were halted due to ongoing court battles over the fate of these employees.

In mid-February, thousands of newly hired or promoted workers at the department received termination letters, only to have these decisions temporarily reversed by court orders. Many of these employees who did not secure alternative employment have been on paid leave since then.

An HHS spokesperson stated, “This is the final step of the process where they receive their final notice. These probationary employees were previously informed in February that their jobs were at risk.”

It remains unclear whether all health agencies will be affected by this renewed wave of terminations. Individuals at the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported receiving instructions to carry out the terminations.

One CDC official, speaking anonymously, expressed dismay at the situation, particularly highlighting the chronic underfunding and understaffing issues within the agencies.

Letters notifying employees of their terminations were reportedly sent via mail, with an emphasis on urgency and frequent updates on the progress of the mailings. The February firings of probationary workers differed from recent department-wide layoffs, which were part of a restructuring initiative led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The initial termination letters in February cited reasons such as lack of fit for the agency’s needs and inadequate performance. This rationale was met with surprise by many employees and supervisors, as some of the terminated workers had received high performance ratings and were recruited to fill critical vacancies.

In the following months, some offices have managed to retain probationary employees by demonstrating their importance in fulfilling crucial agency functions. Others have begun the process of collecting equipment from terminated staff members.

Overall, the ongoing termination efforts at the Department of Health and Human Services continue to cause upheaval within the nation’s health agencies, with employees and supervisors grappling with the consequences of these decisions.