RFK Jr. implements 20% workforce cuts at HHS, reshapes FDA

Recent job cuts at the CDC and FDA, initiated by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have eliminated key personnel responsible for processing Freedom of Information Act requests, raising concerns about transparency and public access to government data. These cuts are part of a broader reorganization within the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes a 20% reduction in workforce and controversial leadership changes, such as the forced resignation of FDA vaccine chief Peter Marks. Kennedy's administration is advocating for significant public health reforms, including a reevaluation of vaccine safety protocols and a push against corporate influence in health policy. His approach has sparked both support and backlash, with some praising the need for a fresh start while others express concern over the implications for vaccine safety and public trust. As these changes unfold, the future of public health communication and transparency hangs in the balance, with many pending FOIA requests now in limbo. The administration's centralization of control over information release may further complicate the relationship between federal health agencies and the public.