The Trump administration has reinstated some federal workers who were recently dismissed from key health and safety positions, including those regulating food and medical devices and supporting 9/11 responders, the Washington Post reports.
The move follows backlash from advocacy groups, lawmakers, and industry leaders concerned about the impact of the mass terminations.
Earlier this month, thousands of probationary employees across various federal agencies were let go in what some called a “Valentine’s Day massacre.” The layoffs included workers from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other health-related agencies. The administration framed the cuts as part of an effort to streamline the federal government. However, critics warned that these dismissals could undermine public health and safety.
The firings sparked swift opposition from patient advocacy organizations, industry groups, and lawmakers from both parties. Some positions at the FDA and CDC are funded partly by private-sector fees rather than taxpayer dollars, leading lobbying groups to argue that the cuts were unnecessary and counterproductive.
The medical device industry, represented by AdvaMed, raised concerns about the firings at the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, where employees review the safety and effectiveness of medical technologies such as pacemakers and ventilators. Following the reinstatements, AdvaMed’s CEO, Scott Whitaker, praised the decision, emphasizing the importance of a well-functioning regulatory process.
Over the weekend, the administration began contacting some dismissed workers and offering them their jobs back. Among those reinstated were:
- FDA employees overseeing food safety regulations.
- Medical device reviewers responsible for evaluating new healthcare technologies.
- The head of the FDA’s infant formula office, a role created after the 2022 baby formula shortage.
- CDC employees managing medical support for 9/11 first responders and survivors.
The decision to reinstate the 9/11 program workers followed bipartisan criticism, including from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and a group of Republican lawmakers who expressed “grave concerns” in a letter to President Trump.
While some employees have been brought back, many others remain dismissed, and federal agencies are still reviewing which roles may need to be restored. Some training programs in public health and laboratory science were severely impacted by the layoffs, but efforts to reverse these decisions face challenges.
At the CDC, an initial plan to cut 1,269 positions was later revised to 750 terminations. The Epidemic Intelligence Service, a key disease-detective program, was initially targeted but ultimately spared after an online campaign by its alumni.
The reinstatements mark a partial reversal of the broader workforce reductions that the Trump administration has pursued. However, tens of thousands of federal workers across multiple agencies—including USAID, the IRS, the Education Department, and the Defense Department—have already lost their jobs as part of these efforts.
Legal challenges to the layoffs are ongoing, with federal employee unions arguing that the cuts could affect more than 500,000 workers. A federal watchdog agency has recommended pausing the terminations pending further review, but a judge recently declined to issue a temporary restraining order to halt the firings.
While some reinstated workers expressed relief at returning to their roles, they also acknowledged the uncertainty for others who were not rehired.
“What makes us more special than any other federal worker?” said one FDA medical device reviewer. “We all work to protect the public good.”
