On Thursday, the Trump administration announced the layoff of 10,000 employees at the Health and Human Services Department. This move is part of a broader reorganization aligned with the priorities of health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the White House’s goal to reduce the size of the government.
These layoffs represent a significant reduction in personnel for the health department, which previously employed about 82,000 individuals and has a substantial impact on all Americans through its oversight of medical care, food, and drugs.
The cuts will have a significant impact on two key agencies within the department: the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These agencies are expected to lose approximately 20 percent of their staff members from these latest layoffs alone.
Combined with previous buyouts and early retirements, this reorganization will bring the health department’s workforce down to around 62,000 employees, according to the agency.
The restructuring aims to centralize communications and other functions under Mr. Kennedy’s leadership and involves the establishment of a new division called the Administration for a Healthy America.
Mr. Kennedy stated that the changes are geared towards achieving more with fewer resources, acknowledging that it will be a challenging period for H.H.S.
While Mr. Kennedy argued that chronic disease rates rose during the previous administration, he did not provide evidence to support his claim. Experts note that chronic disease rates have been increasing for the past two decades, including during the first Trump administration.
Employees within the affected agencies are reeling from the news and express concerns over the impact these layoffs will have on public health and safety.
Senator Patty Murray criticized the cuts, particularly in the midst of health crises like bird flu outbreaks and measles cases. She described Mr. Kennedy’s notion of doing more with less as absurd.
Worried about the implications for public health, employees affected by the layoffs fear that safety may be compromised due to the significant reduction in staff.
Under the plan, the C.D.C. would refocus on its core mission of infectious disease, while the F.D.A. and the National Institutes of Health will also experience substantial workforce reductions.
Dr. Anand Parekh criticized the move to shift the C.D.C.’s focus solely to infectious diseases, arguing that it neglects the importance of addressing noncommunicable diseases, which are leading causes of death in the present day.
The reorganization is set to cut thousands of jobs across various agencies, with the aim of streamlining operations in alignment with President Trump’s directive to reduce the federal workforce.
Mr. Kennedy’s consolidation of health communications is seen as a significant change, aiming to centralize communication efforts currently managed by different agencies like the C.D.C. and the F.D.A.
The plan to reorganize the H.H.S. has sparked concerns among critics, who worry about Mr. Kennedy’s past history of manipulating data to support his views on vaccine safety.
As part of the reorganization, regional H.H.S. offices will be consolidated, and a reduction in force affecting administrative positions is expected to take place soon.
Democratic lawmakers have expressed anger over the cuts, while Republicans are adopting a more wait-and-see approach towards the reorganization.
Union leaders and advocacy groups have vowed to fight back against the layoffs and their potential impact on various health services.
Critics have raised concerns about the impact of these cuts on critical H.H.S. services, particularly in areas like elderly care and mental health support.
Former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra warned that these cuts could lead to a downgrade in services and preparedness for health crises, calling it a potential man-made disaster.
Mr. Kennedy’s plan to establish the Administration for a Healthy America aims to consolidate agencies dealing with substance abuse treatment, chemical safety, and vaccine injury claims.
The reorganization intends to make these departments more accountable and efficient, according to Mr. Kennedy’s video announcement.
The reorganization led by Mr. Kennedy has sparked concerns about data access and transparency, particularly in light of his history of data manipulation related to vaccine safety issues.
Mr. Kennedy emphasized the goals of enhancing accountability to taxpayers and patients through the restructuring of various H.H.S. departments.
Michael Gold contributed reporting.