Recently, around 3,000 public health workers were let go from their jobs due to mass firings by the Trump administration. This happened over the Valentine’s Day weekend and mainly affected probationary employees in the Department of Health and Human Services.
One of the people impacted was MacClement Guthrie. He worked as a public health advisor in Minneapolis, helping school-based clinics through a CDC program. His role involved providing sexual and reproductive health education and analyzing data to track health trends.
Guthrie sensed something was off for weeks but was still caught off guard by the sudden news. He and his coworkers were notified late Friday afternoon about the layoffs. By Saturday night, he received a formal termination letter.
Along with his colleagues, Guthrie is considering a class-action lawsuit. He feels their jobs were taken away unfairly and hopes to continue their vital work in public health.
These layoffs highlight a growing concern about job security in public health, especially during a time when the need for such expertise is more critical than ever.
