Two senior leaders at the Fulton County Board of Health have been placed on administrative leave following the sudden layoffs of 17 staff members — many of whom were working in HIV and sexual health services — reportedly without state approval.
The move has sparked concern among community leaders, public health advocates, and residents across Metro Atlanta, where Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton counties remain among the most impacted regions in the country for new HIV diagnoses.
Executives Removed After Unapproved Layoffs
On May 20, the Georgia Department of Public Health announced it had suspended two executive leaders of Fulton County’s health department:
- Dr. Lynn Paxton, District Health Director
- Carol Lawrence, Human Resources Director
Both were placed on unpaid administrative leave pending investigation. Chief of Staff Brian Easom has been appointed as interim head of the department.
State health spokesperson Nancy Nydam confirmed that the layoffs were carried out “without the prior knowledge or approval” of the state department and that a full review of the actions is underway.
Community Impact: HIV Outreach Efforts Disrupted
The staffing cuts have already begun to impact outreach programs across Atlanta’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. One of the laid-off employees, Tyson Randolph, worked on youth-focused HIV prevention initiatives in the West End.
“I was building a bridge with kids in my community,” Randolph said. “Now my efforts are out the window.”
Randolph’s team had been developing innovative ways to reach underserved youth and college students with public health education. These workers were helping to close testing gaps in communities often left out of traditional outreach.
Fulton County’s HIV Burden Among Nation’s Highest
According to the nonprofit AIDSVu, Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton counties ranked among the top 15 counties nationwide for new HIV diagnoses in 2022.
With rising STI rates and decreased testing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, many public health experts say any loss of HIV outreach personnel represents a serious threat to ongoing prevention efforts in Georgia’s urban centers.
Broader Funding Losses Across Georgia
The layoffs in Fulton come amid broader public health funding cuts statewide. In March, the CDC announced clawbacks of approximately $334 million in pandemic-era funding, which triggered job losses at the Georgia Department of Public Health, including temporary contact tracers and outreach workers.
Several community-based health groups also lost grant funding for programs related to vaccine access, maternal care, and health equity.
Additionally, the CDC recently laid off much of its own HIV prevention staff, including a team focused on preventing mother-to-child transmission, and canceled a national HIV home-testing distribution program run in partnership with Emory University. That program had distributed nearly 750,000 free home kits before it ended.
Fulton County Board Responds
Jack Hardin, chair of the Fulton County Board of Health, confirmed the executive suspensions but stated that the layoffs were part of an internal “restructuring” and would not result in service disruptions.
“There is no disruption in HIV, STI, or TB clinical services due to these actions,” the department stated in a follow-up message.
However, community advocates say removing staff who perform outreach, education, and community trust-building will inevitably reduce effectiveness — even if clinical testing locations remain open.
Accountability and Unanswered Questions
Neither Paxton nor Lawrence have publicly responded to the layoffs. Health department staff who remain employed say morale has dropped, and some fear additional cuts could follow.
Health equity advocates in Atlanta are calling for a full review of how the layoffs were executed and whether appropriate stakeholder input — particularly from affected communities — was considered.
What’s Next?
- The laid-off employees will receive salary through the end of May and severance payments in June.
- The Georgia Department of Public Health is continuing its investigation.
- Community health organizations are regrouping to determine how to fill service gaps.
Public health watchers say the timing is particularly troubling as summer months often see spikes in STI transmission and HIV risk among younger populations.
Community Reaction and Concern
“This isn’t just a workforce issue,” said one local HIV prevention advocate. “It’s a trust issue. And trust takes years to build — but can be broken in a day.”
As public scrutiny increases, many are waiting to see whether state or local leaders will restore lost positions or reassign resources before long-term damage is done to Atlanta’s already-strained public health infrastructure.
Do you or someone you know rely on local HIV prevention or sexual health outreach services?
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Sources
- GPB News: https://www.gpb.org/news/2025/05/22/fulton-county-georgia-health-department-leaders-put-on-leave-after-hiv-workers-laid
- AIDSVu: https://aidsvu.org/resources/#/datasets?years=2022&locations=county&data_types=new-diagnoses
- Healthbeat: https://www.healthbeat.org/2025/05/06/hiv-trump-funding-cuts-south
- CDC HIV Testing Data: https://www.healthbeat.org/atlanta/2025/05/06/hiv-home-test-funding-cut-emory-cdc
