Nearly 1,300 probationary workers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are being dismissed as part of a federal workforce reduction under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, the Associated Press reported on Friday, citing a federal official.

These workers represent approximately one-tenth of the CDC's total staff, according to the report.

The verbal notice came from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during a meeting with CDC leadership, AP reported, citing a federal official present at the meeting.

The CDC and HHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The U.S. government began reducing staff at multiple agencies on Thursday as part of a broader restructuring effort.

Trump has tasked Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency, a temporary agency, with evaluating and downsizing portions of the 2.3 million-strong civilian federal workforce.

The CDC, which had a discretionary budget of $9.25 billion in 2024, provides significant funding for state and local public health programs. Approximately two-thirds of its budget supports public health and prevention activities at these levels.

The CDC director reports to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was confirmed as health secretary on Thursday. Kennedy has been a vocal critic of certain CDC policies, particularly regarding vaccines.