Trump Administration Cuts Thousands from Federal Health Agencies

The Trump administration has enacted drastic cuts to federal health agencies, resulting in the termination of approximately 10,000 employees across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including the CDC, FDA, and NIH. Many employees received their layoff notices via email early in the morning, and some were informed of their dismissals only upon arriving at work. The restructuring, led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is framed as a move to consolidate authority and streamline operations, but has drawn criticism for compromising public health oversight at a time when the U.S. is facing health crises, including a nationwide measles outbreak. Critics, including Senator Raphael Warnock, have condemned the layoffs as detrimental to disease prevention efforts. The cuts also extend to community health initiatives in areas like Fresno County, where funding for essential health services and support for vulnerable populations has been severely impacted. Overall, the sweeping reductions have raised alarms about the future capacity of federal agencies to safeguard public health.