It's Kat
@blackcats-and-naps.bsky.social
Science is at the heart of us all. Evidence matters. Science | Medicine | Research | Analysis | Journalism | News | Transparency | Policy | Government | Equity | Community | History | Books | Dugs, Cats, 'n Coos | Puns | Naps | all views my own
Reposted by It's Kat
Welp now they’re reversing some of the layoffs. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/h...
Trump Administration Is Bringing Back Scores of C.D.C. Experts Fired in Error
www.nytimes.com
October 12, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Welp now they’re reversing some of the layoffs. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/h...
Reposted by It's Kat
An HHS source says admin also RIFed entire Office of Population Affairs last night.
“Not a single staff person to run our nation's family planning program or the evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention program. The Office of Adolescent Health which nested within OPA functionally ceases to exist”
“Not a single staff person to run our nation's family planning program or the evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention program. The Office of Adolescent Health which nested within OPA functionally ceases to exist”
October 12, 2025 at 3:25 AM
An HHS source says admin also RIFed entire Office of Population Affairs last night.
“Not a single staff person to run our nation's family planning program or the evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention program. The Office of Adolescent Health which nested within OPA functionally ceases to exist”
“Not a single staff person to run our nation's family planning program or the evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention program. The Office of Adolescent Health which nested within OPA functionally ceases to exist”
Reposted by It's Kat
Lots of Epidemic Intelligence Service officers ("disease detectives") gone.
In-country staff in Africa (including those helping to manage the current Ebola outbreak) are fired.
In-country staff in Africa (including those helping to manage the current Ebola outbreak) are fired.
October 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Lots of Epidemic Intelligence Service officers ("disease detectives") gone.
In-country staff in Africa (including those helping to manage the current Ebola outbreak) are fired.
In-country staff in Africa (including those helping to manage the current Ebola outbreak) are fired.
Reposted by It's Kat
Policy, comms, ethics, and science management (the people who clear science docs — determine whether they meet scientific standards) heavily hit.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report staff are gone.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report staff are gone.
October 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Policy, comms, ethics, and science management (the people who clear science docs — determine whether they meet scientific standards) heavily hit.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report staff are gone.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report staff are gone.
Reposted by It's Kat
Per CDC source: At internal leadership meeting this afternoon, it was shared that 1,257 people were RIF'd at CDC. Number may not be final. Apparently, chief of staff was unaware that RIFs were going to occur so not clear who is making decisions. (Short 🧵)
October 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Per CDC source: At internal leadership meeting this afternoon, it was shared that 1,257 people were RIF'd at CDC. Number may not be final. Apparently, chief of staff was unaware that RIFs were going to occur so not clear who is making decisions. (Short 🧵)
Reposted by It's Kat
Special education isn't a "nice thing to have." It isn't "charity" or doing something to make us feel better. It is a right. The right to a Free Appropriate Public Education is codified in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, signed by a Republican president.
U.S. Department of Education fired nearly everyone in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in a wave of new layoffs that began Friday, according to the union representing the agency's employees. www.usatoday.com/story/news/e...
Education Department wipes out special ed office in shutdown layoffs, union says
The Education Department laid off nearly everyone at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
www.usatoday.com
October 13, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Special education isn't a "nice thing to have." It isn't "charity" or doing something to make us feel better. It is a right. The right to a Free Appropriate Public Education is codified in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, signed by a Republican president.
Reposted by It's Kat
It's worth printing out these zines from the attached link to hand out at #NoKings Oct 18. @mass50501.bsky.social @maindivisible.bsky.social @indivisiblechicago.bsky.social @indivisible.org @altspaceforce.altgov.info @altdhs.altgov.info @altuscustoms.altgov.info @elgrace25.bsky.social
"How to Report ICE" 10/2:
Buffalo, CA, Chicago, CO, DC Metro, DE, FL, Indianapolis, KC Metro, MD, MA, NC Triangle, much of NJ, NM, NYC, Phoenix, Philly, Pittsburgh, Portland OR, RI, Rochester NY, St. Louis Metro, St. Peter & Mankato MN, VA, WI, WY
San Francisco in Spanish
tinyurl.com/mupyyr2x
Buffalo, CA, Chicago, CO, DC Metro, DE, FL, Indianapolis, KC Metro, MD, MA, NC Triangle, much of NJ, NM, NYC, Phoenix, Philly, Pittsburgh, Portland OR, RI, Rochester NY, St. Louis Metro, St. Peter & Mankato MN, VA, WI, WY
San Francisco in Spanish
tinyurl.com/mupyyr2x
October 13, 2025 at 2:56 PM
It's worth printing out these zines from the attached link to hand out at #NoKings Oct 18. @mass50501.bsky.social @maindivisible.bsky.social @indivisiblechicago.bsky.social @indivisible.org @altspaceforce.altgov.info @altdhs.altgov.info @altuscustoms.altgov.info @elgrace25.bsky.social
Reposted by It's Kat
The largest demonstration during Trump’s first term was around 750 events.
“We’re now expecting about 2,500 events around the country on No Kings. So we’re talking about literally four times as many.” - @leahgreenberg.bsky.social
Please join us on Saturday: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i... #NoKings
“We’re now expecting about 2,500 events around the country on No Kings. So we’re talking about literally four times as many.” - @leahgreenberg.bsky.social
Please join us on Saturday: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i... #NoKings
October 13, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The largest demonstration during Trump’s first term was around 750 events.
“We’re now expecting about 2,500 events around the country on No Kings. So we’re talking about literally four times as many.” - @leahgreenberg.bsky.social
Please join us on Saturday: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i... #NoKings
“We’re now expecting about 2,500 events around the country on No Kings. So we’re talking about literally four times as many.” - @leahgreenberg.bsky.social
Please join us on Saturday: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i... #NoKings
Reposted by It's Kat
The difference between Democrats surrendering in March and fighting back now is us. We must encourage Democrats to keep holding the line to protect healthcare for millions of Americans and stop health insurance costs from doubling this winter: indivisible.org/campaign/sto...
October 12, 2025 at 4:28 PM
The difference between Democrats surrendering in March and fighting back now is us. We must encourage Democrats to keep holding the line to protect healthcare for millions of Americans and stop health insurance costs from doubling this winter: indivisible.org/campaign/sto...
Reposted by It's Kat
@sanders.senate.gov: "No, Speaker Johnson, the #NoKings Rally on October 18th is not a 'hate America' rally. ... It’s a rally of millions of people who believe in American freedom and are not going to allow you and President Trump to turn us into an authoritarian country."
October 11, 2025 at 1:20 PM
@sanders.senate.gov: "No, Speaker Johnson, the #NoKings Rally on October 18th is not a 'hate America' rally. ... It’s a rally of millions of people who believe in American freedom and are not going to allow you and President Trump to turn us into an authoritarian country."
Reposted by It's Kat
If you are a federal worker, there are several credit unions and other financial institutions that are offering zero interest loans during the government shutdown.
Please go to my website for more information: www.sanders.senate.gov/resources-fo...
Please go to my website for more information: www.sanders.senate.gov/resources-fo...
October 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM
If you are a federal worker, there are several credit unions and other financial institutions that are offering zero interest loans during the government shutdown.
Please go to my website for more information: www.sanders.senate.gov/resources-fo...
Please go to my website for more information: www.sanders.senate.gov/resources-fo...
Reposted by It's Kat
Good piece: DOGE was the battering ram, but Russ Vought was the one enabling it, and then hiding it's impacts.
October 11, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Good piece: DOGE was the battering ram, but Russ Vought was the one enabling it, and then hiding it's impacts.
Reposted by It's Kat
The IRS is laying off people during the shutdown, even though it was rehiring staff it previously fired because it was so shorthanded.
This one stands out because firing IRS employees costs the government money, since they bring in about $6-8 for every dollar spent on tax enforcement
This one stands out because firing IRS employees costs the government money, since they bring in about $6-8 for every dollar spent on tax enforcement
October 11, 2025 at 1:32 PM
The IRS is laying off people during the shutdown, even though it was rehiring staff it previously fired because it was so shorthanded.
This one stands out because firing IRS employees costs the government money, since they bring in about $6-8 for every dollar spent on tax enforcement
This one stands out because firing IRS employees costs the government money, since they bring in about $6-8 for every dollar spent on tax enforcement
Reposted by It's Kat
📲 Join us Virtually!: act.standupforscience.net/events/virtu...
RALLY: FIGHT FOR SCIENCE
Stand Up for Science along with patients, advocates, scientists, members of Congress, and allies will gather to demand protection of the nation's health institutions call out Health and Human Services...
act.standupforscience.net
October 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
📲 Join us Virtually!: act.standupforscience.net/events/virtu...
Reposted by It's Kat
Extremely bad news if true (and unlikely this reporter would run with it if not). The MMWR has been the earliest warning bell for outbreaks since it announced the first US cases, in 1981, of what was later identified as AIDS.
This will be a grievous shock to what remains of US public health.
This will be a grievous shock to what remains of US public health.
BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:
October 11, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Extremely bad news if true (and unlikely this reporter would run with it if not). The MMWR has been the earliest warning bell for outbreaks since it announced the first US cases, in 1981, of what was later identified as AIDS.
This will be a grievous shock to what remains of US public health.
This will be a grievous shock to what remains of US public health.
Reposted by It's Kat
FULL STORY HERE: Emails began flooding CDC inboxes late Friday night announcing dozens of layoffs. HR people brought back from furlough to oversee the RIFs. Disease detectives, entire Washington office, global health, injury prevention, MMWR staff among those hit.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 4:49 AM
FULL STORY HERE: Emails began flooding CDC inboxes late Friday night announcing dozens of layoffs. HR people brought back from furlough to oversee the RIFs. Disease detectives, entire Washington office, global health, injury prevention, MMWR staff among those hit.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
Reposted by It's Kat
BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:
October 11, 2025 at 2:10 AM
BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:
Reposted by It's Kat
If I were actively trying to destroy the United States from within, going after and dismantling its public health would be like the first thing I’d do.
Just pointing that out.
This is beyond dangerous. It’s leaving us vulnerable in a way we can’t really fathom until it’s too late.
Just pointing that out.
This is beyond dangerous. It’s leaving us vulnerable in a way we can’t really fathom until it’s too late.
BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:
October 11, 2025 at 2:42 AM
If I were actively trying to destroy the United States from within, going after and dismantling its public health would be like the first thing I’d do.
Just pointing that out.
This is beyond dangerous. It’s leaving us vulnerable in a way we can’t really fathom until it’s too late.
Just pointing that out.
This is beyond dangerous. It’s leaving us vulnerable in a way we can’t really fathom until it’s too late.
Reposted by It's Kat
"In addition to rank-and-file scientists and staffers, institutional leaders were affected this time around, leaving it unclear just how the agency’s major centers and divisions might continue to function."
by @jeremyfaust.bsky.social
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-n...
by @jeremyfaust.bsky.social
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-n...
BREAKING NEWS: CDC employees terminated in apparent Friday night massacre.
The Trump administration is using the shutdown to further weaken the our national public health infrastructure.
insidemedicine.substack.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:05 AM
"In addition to rank-and-file scientists and staffers, institutional leaders were affected this time around, leaving it unclear just how the agency’s major centers and divisions might continue to function."
by @jeremyfaust.bsky.social
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-n...
by @jeremyfaust.bsky.social
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-n...
Reposted by It's Kat
More on the CDC tonight: @jeremyfaust.bsky.social , who is impeccably sourced there (physician, Harvard faculty) has details on the divisions hit by the apparently illegal RIFS. insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-n...
BREAKING NEWS: CDC employees terminated in apparent Friday night massacre.
The Trump administration is using the shutdown to further weaken the our national public health infrastructure.
insidemedicine.substack.com
October 11, 2025 at 2:58 AM
More on the CDC tonight: @jeremyfaust.bsky.social , who is impeccably sourced there (physician, Harvard faculty) has details on the divisions hit by the apparently illegal RIFS. insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-n...
Reposted by It's Kat
I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.
October 11, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.
Reposted by It's Kat
IT'S TIME TO TAKE BACK SCIENCE
FIGHT FOR SCIENCE RALLY ✊🌏
⏰ WHEN: October 17th, 2025
📍WHERE: 200 Independence Ave SW, Washington DC!
RSVP IRL: act.standupforscience.net/events/rally...
@standupforscience.bsky.social
#impeachTheQuack
#GetOutTheVought
#StandUpForScience
FIGHT FOR SCIENCE RALLY ✊🌏
⏰ WHEN: October 17th, 2025
📍WHERE: 200 Independence Ave SW, Washington DC!
RSVP IRL: act.standupforscience.net/events/rally...
@standupforscience.bsky.social
#impeachTheQuack
#GetOutTheVought
#StandUpForScience
October 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
IT'S TIME TO TAKE BACK SCIENCE
FIGHT FOR SCIENCE RALLY ✊🌏
⏰ WHEN: October 17th, 2025
📍WHERE: 200 Independence Ave SW, Washington DC!
RSVP IRL: act.standupforscience.net/events/rally...
@standupforscience.bsky.social
#impeachTheQuack
#GetOutTheVought
#StandUpForScience
FIGHT FOR SCIENCE RALLY ✊🌏
⏰ WHEN: October 17th, 2025
📍WHERE: 200 Independence Ave SW, Washington DC!
RSVP IRL: act.standupforscience.net/events/rally...
@standupforscience.bsky.social
#impeachTheQuack
#GetOutTheVought
#StandUpForScience
Reposted by It's Kat
RFK Jr on Tylenol and autism: "It is not proof. We're doing the studies to make the proof."
October 9, 2025 at 4:57 PM
RFK Jr on Tylenol and autism: "It is not proof. We're doing the studies to make the proof."
Reposted by It's Kat
The Trump admin is in the midst of laying off 1,100-1,200 HHS staff. The CDC's outbreak responders, gone. The office producing CDC's weekly journal MMWR is gone. CDC staff securing sensitive data, gone. Worker safety, gone. Immunization group, gone.
Instead, Congress watches RFK "make the proof"
Instead, Congress watches RFK "make the proof"
RFK Jr on Tylenol and autism: "It is not proof. We're doing the studies to make the proof."
October 11, 2025 at 1:36 PM
The Trump admin is in the midst of laying off 1,100-1,200 HHS staff. The CDC's outbreak responders, gone. The office producing CDC's weekly journal MMWR is gone. CDC staff securing sensitive data, gone. Worker safety, gone. Immunization group, gone.
Instead, Congress watches RFK "make the proof"
Instead, Congress watches RFK "make the proof"