HHS Begins Mass Layoffs, Cutting 10,000 Positions Nationwide

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has begun issuing layoff notices as part of a significant overhaul that could result in up to 10,000 job losses. This decision comes shortly after President Donald Trump moved to strip collective bargaining rights from federal workers at HHS and other agencies. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to consolidate multiple agencies under the new Administration for a Healthy America, which aims to streamline operations but will substantially reduce the workforce from approximately 82,000 to 62,000 employees. Concerns have been raised by lawmakers, including Senator Patty Murray, about the potential negative impact on public health and the response to infectious disease outbreaks due to these cuts. Additionally, state and local health departments are already facing job reductions following the withdrawal of over $11 billion in COVID-19-related funds by HHS. The restructuring has sparked fears that crucial health functions, such as disease monitoring and food safety, will be compromised.