Barely two weeks after they were fired, dozens of young scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were reinstated on Tuesday — at least temporarily.
Over the afternoon, fellows from two of the agency’s prestigious training programs were told they were cleared to return to work on Wednesday.
“After further review and consideration, the notification to terminate your appointment, effective February 15, 2025, has been rescinded,” the emails said.
The fellows had been let go as part of the push to cut federal probationary employees — those employed for less than a year — that caused thousands of scientists from the C.D.C. and other agencies to lose their jobs.
On Tuesday, the Office of Personnel Management walked back its previous order to fire the employees and said “agencies have ultimate decision-making authority over, and responsibility for, such personnel actions.”
The concession is the result of a union victory on Thursday, when a California judge ruled that the O.P.M. had exceeded its authority in instructing agencies to fire an estimated 200,000 probationary workers.