Musk’s Mass Firings Leave Agencies Without Top Experts

On April 1, the Trump administration purged thousands of employees across US health agencies. Those fortunate enough to be allowed into their offices and labs to collect personal belongings could be seen lugging boxes to their cars. Others learned they’d been terminated when they arrived for work to find their badges deactivated.

Among those who lost their jobs were people working on bird flu, brain research, chronic disease and reproductive health. The leaders who oversaw new drug reviews and tobacco policy were removed from their positions. A few days earlier, Peter Marks, the medical doctor who led the division of ...