Last month, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Although researchers were asked to continue working in the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke for several weeks, multiple sources familiar with the situation said their layoff notices had not been revoked.
A scientist who asked not to be named told CBS News in a message.
This means they are still facing the termination of the federal government on June 2, taking leave with thousands of other workers Kennedy's layoffs Announced last month.
"The 11 labs have about 100 employees, mainly young trainees," a scientist familiar with the situation told CBS News.
The transmitter previously reported news of neurological diseases and unemployment of stroke scientists.
Scientists who lay off jobs include Richard Youle. Youle has been working at NIH since 1978. He holds the title of Distinguished Investigator, the name retained by the agency’s most distinguished researchers. He won the $3 million breakthrough award in the 2021 Life Science Award for his research on Parkinson's disease.
A scientist familiar with Youle's work, who was anonymously afraid of revenge, praised his research as a "fundamental important" breakthrough in the field. The NIH said in a press release that Youle's results provide researchers with a path to new therapies for Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
A NIH source said Youle received four job offers after layoffs last month. Three are positions outside the United States. Yuer told others that he has no interest in leaving the United States now, but the source said: "If we don't solve this problem, the world is ready to put out and ride on our top scientists."
According to records shared by CBS News with CBS News. Records show that Ninds senior scientist Silvina Horowitz also laid off employees.
Among scientists who have received significant recognition for their work in recent years include WU, who received a prestigious award from the Biophysics Society in February for his ongoing research on how neurons communicate and function. Sibley was recognized by a pharmacological society in 2023 to understand the "groundbreaking contribution" of dopamine receptors in the brain.
Kennedy told the Senate Health Committee hearing on May 14 that their only cuts so far are “administrative cuts.”
"As far as I know, we haven't fired any scientists who work, effective scientists, who are actually doing science. Some are scientists who are doing this or the government, and they do lose their jobs. But, in terms of working scientists, our policy is to make sure that none of them are lost and that this research continues to exist."
NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and senior leaders in the department have become aware of the layoffs, multiple sources told CBS News. Bhattacharya and others have previously said that this is a mistake and will be reversed soon.
It has passed since these assurances were provided to scientists. Multiple sources say scientists have not received any letters that have revoked their “reduced force” or “rif” notice or explained why there has never been a layoff action.
This is different from similar layoffs that were revoked a few weeks ago Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The department completed within days before Kennedy's testimony to Capitol Hill.
When asked about the employment status of NIH and NIOSH scientists, the department's spokesperson's remarks at the Senate hearing on layoffs returned to local spokespersons.
Kennedy said that in recent days, no other health agency has ruled that scientists fired scientists in any job in several health agencies outside the NIH.
For example, some layoffs National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health staff were restored ahead of Kennedy hearingresearchers in the institution's Health Effects Laboratory division still have no jobs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also lost many of its National Center for Environmental Health scientists, which is responsible for a range of work. lead poisoning Get ill Cruise ship breaks out. CDC Laboratory investigates outbreaks of viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted diseases EliminatedAfter all the scientists were fired.
"Perhaps he didn't realize his rifle had dug scientists and frontline public health workers on the CDC, which is the person he vowed to protect," a retained CDC official told CBS News.
Some in the NIH say they believe that scientists will be restored after the research institute faces A Round 2 The layoffs of employees were told to compensate scientists who needed to resume their positions.
About 200 employees at NIH have been fired, including the National Cancer Institute’s staff and research institutions offices. Officials said the cuts eliminate multiple teams responsible for the contracting efforts to carry out emergency maintenance around NIH’s campus and oversee lab safety.
The NIH acquisition office was flooded with those layoffs, leaving the agency’s supply center “little has the capacity to have new jobs” to provide the researchers, according to an email from a lab manager shared with CBS News.