Jess Mador

The Atlanta-based CDC is losing nearly 1,300 people with jobs classified as probationary. That includes newer hires and longtime staffers who've recently moved to new positions internally at the CDC. Affected workers are slated to get four weeks of paid administrative leave according to an employee requesting anonymity because they're not authorized to speak for the agency.

The Atlanta-based CDC is losing nearly 1,300 people with jobs classified as probationary. That includes newer hires and longtime staffers who've recently moved to new positions internally at the CDC. Affected workers are slated to get four weeks of paid administrative leave according to an employee requesting anonymity because they're not authorized to speak for the agency.

The layoffs are fueling fear across the public health community and among Democrats in Congress who say the cuts at CDC will leave the U.S. more vulnerable to disease outbreaks. For NPR News, I'm Jess Mador in Atlanta.

The layoffs are fueling fear across the public health community and among Democrats in Congress who say the cuts at CDC will leave the U.S. more vulnerable to disease outbreaks. For NPR News, I'm Jess Mador in Atlanta.