Overview

• HHS told a federal court that data discrepancies and processing errors caused about 1,760 reduction‑in‑force notices to go out on Oct. 10 instead of the intended 982, with staff working since then to rescind erroneous notices.
• HHS guidance reviewed by reporters shows 596 intended RIFs at the CDC; the CDC union local says roughly 1,300 employees initially received notices and about 700 were later reversed, describing continued confusion over affected units.
• OMB’s Stephen Billy said RIF totals are fluid, with revised filings shifting agency counts, including DHS lowered to 54, Treasury updated to 1,377, and Commerce listed at 600 after adding notices from earlier dates.
• An HHS spokesperson said employees who received incorrect notifications were never separated and were told they are not subject to the reductions, noting recipients were designated non‑essential by their divisions.
• AFGE and the AFL‑CIO have active litigation challenging the layoffs tied to the funding lapse, and employees typically face a two‑month notice period before separations become official.