Mass layoffs and leadership departures at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have culled an estimated quarter of the workforce this year, according to union tallies, affecting centers that monitor chronic disease, immunization and emergency response. The reductions coincide with broader political changes at HHS and have prompted concern about operational capacity and institutional knowledge loss. Separately, a steady outflow from senior FDA ranks and the formation of consultancies by former agency leaders underscore institutional turbulence and potential impacts on regulatory continuity. Industry stakeholders warned the changes could complicate review timelines and policy implementation.