Selina Simmons-Duffin

Selina Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.

On Friday, federal health agency workers received an unsigned email with a buyout offer. The email was obtained by NPR. The subject line read, please read immediately. It set a deadline of Friday, March 14th to decide whether to take the buyout. It mentioned the same deadline for workers to choose early retirement.

On Friday, federal health agency workers received an unsigned email with a buyout offer. The email was obtained by NPR. The subject line read, please read immediately. It set a deadline of Friday, March 14th to decide whether to take the buyout. It mentioned the same deadline for workers to choose early retirement.

Workers can receive up to $25,000 in a lump sum, although if they work for the federal government again within five years, they have to pay the full amount back. The Social Security Administration announced a similar offer to employees on its website, and the Department of Education has reportedly sent similar emails.

Workers can receive up to $25,000 in a lump sum, although if they work for the federal government again within five years, they have to pay the full amount back. The Social Security Administration announced a similar offer to employees on its website, and the Department of Education has reportedly sent similar emails.

The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to NPR's request for details about the program. Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.

The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to NPR's request for details about the program. Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.

People braved snow and freezing temperatures to protest the firing of government researchers and cuts to academic research currently paused by the courts. Signs read, no one voted for polio and I'd rather be in my lab working on cures for cancer. One of the speakers was Connor Phillips, who told the crowd he has cerebral palsy.

People braved snow and freezing temperatures to protest the firing of government researchers and cuts to academic research currently paused by the courts. Signs read, no one voted for polio and I'd rather be in my lab working on cures for cancer. One of the speakers was Connor Phillips, who told the crowd he has cerebral palsy.

He says after cuts at the National Institutes of Health, he can't continue his research even though he was a postgraduate volunteer. Selina Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.

He says after cuts at the National Institutes of Health, he can't continue his research even though he was a postgraduate volunteer. Selina Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.

Well, first of all, he spent decades as an anti-vaccine activist leading a group called Children's Health Defense, and he believes a thoroughly debunked claim that vaccines cause autism. I am sure we'll hear a lot about that since this job has broad powers over federal vaccine policy.

Well, first of all, he spent decades as an anti-vaccine activist leading a group called Children's Health Defense, and he believes a thoroughly debunked claim that vaccines cause autism. I am sure we'll hear a lot about that since this job has broad powers over federal vaccine policy.

Well, first of all, he spent decades as an anti-vaccine activist leading a group called Children's Health Defense, and he believes a thoroughly debunked claim that vaccines cause autism. I am sure we'll hear a lot about that since this job has broad powers over federal vaccine policy.

He has made millions of dollars over the years suing vaccine makers, and he could profit off of lawsuits against Merck while in this job that regulates drug makers. He also denies that HIV causes AIDS. That is an established scientific fact. And he frequently compared COVID-19 public health measures to Hitler's Germany.

He has made millions of dollars over the years suing vaccine makers, and he could profit off of lawsuits against Merck while in this job that regulates drug makers. He also denies that HIV causes AIDS. That is an established scientific fact. And he frequently compared COVID-19 public health measures to Hitler's Germany.

He has made millions of dollars over the years suing vaccine makers, and he could profit off of lawsuits against Merck while in this job that regulates drug makers. He also denies that HIV causes AIDS. That is an established scientific fact. And he frequently compared COVID-19 public health measures to Hitler's Germany.

In this role, he would be in charge of the response if there's another pandemic crisis. So there is just so much to talk about. It's really hard to predict how the hearing will play out, but it will definitely be interesting.

In this role, he would be in charge of the response if there's another pandemic crisis. So there is just so much to talk about. It's really hard to predict how the hearing will play out, but it will definitely be interesting.

In this role, he would be in charge of the response if there's another pandemic crisis. So there is just so much to talk about. It's really hard to predict how the hearing will play out, but it will definitely be interesting.