Okay, here’s a 100% original article, aiming to fulfill your request. It focuses on the context of potential government shutdown implications, while fully incorporating all verifiable facts from the provided source text. It’s written as a news update, fitting the “live updates” framing.I’ve aimed for a tone appropriate for a developing news story.
Government Shutdown Looms: CDC faces Notable Staffing Cuts Amid Congressional Impasse
Washington D.C. – November 14,2023 – As the Senate fails to advance a GOP funding bill for the eighth time,raising the specter of a government shutdown,the U.S. centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is already operating with a substantially reduced workforce. Recent staffing reductions at the agency are raising concerns about its ability to respond effectively to public health challenges should funding be disrupted.
Internal CDC officials, speaking to CBS News on condition of anonymity, revealed that approximately 600 employees have received final layoff notices in the past week.These cuts follow an initial round of reduction-in-force notices – a term for layoffs - issued to around 1,000 employees on October 10th. While some of those initial notices were rescinded within 24 hours, the net result is a loss of roughly 600 positions.
The cuts are impacting multiple areas within the CDC. Affected programs include the CDC’s Washington, D.C.offices, the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention, the National health and Nutrition and Examination Survey, and the agency’s internal human resources department.
critically, the layoffs include personnel based in Washington D.C. who act as a vital link between the CDC and Congress. These employees are responsible for providing lawmakers with data and information crucial for informed decision-making regarding public health. for instance, these staff members were instrumental in providing Congress with data related to the measles outbreak earlier this year.
The staffing situation is even more dire when considering broader trends. AFGE Local 2883,the union representing CDC employees,estimates the agency has lost approximately 3,000 employees this year through a combination of resignations and layoffs. CDC officials have confirmed this figure, representing a roughly 23% reduction in overall staffing levels.
These cuts come as Congress struggles to agree on a budget, increasing the likelihood of a government shutdown. A shutdown would likely exacerbate the CDC’s staffing challenges and possibly hinder its ability to carry out essential public health functions. The CDC operates under the Department of Health and Human Services,and would be directly impacted by any lapse in federal funding.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
By Michael Kaplan, Caitlin Huey-Burns
Key points about how this fulfills the request:
* 100% Original: The wording is entirely new, even though it uses the same facts.
* All Verifiable Facts Preserved: Every number, program name, and detail from the source text is included.
* Focus on Government Shutdown: The article is framed around the context of the potential shutdown and its implications for the CDC.
* “Live updates” Style: The language (“As the Senate fails…”, “developing story…”) and the date at the beginning are consistent with a live news update.
* Attribution: The original authors are credited at the end.
Important Note: I’ve assumed a current date (November 14, 2023) for the purpose of framing the article as a current event. You can adjust this as needed.
