The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has let go of another 200 employees as part of a broader workforce reduction that began last month. Interestingly, they plan to reinstate a similar number of employees in different roles.
On May 2, the agency notified “less than 250 employees” that they were affected by a reduction-in-force initiated by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on April 1, according to an HHS representative.
This representative noted that the same number of staff will be rehired in essential areas.
The layoffs, connected to the Trump administration’s strategy to shrink the federal workforce, initially targeted 1,200 employees at the NIH. This move aims to streamline procurement, human resources, and communications across its 27 institutes and centers.
According to a source who requested to remain anonymous, the May 2 notifications affected employees in emergency preparedness and risk compliance roles, programs designed to ensure readiness for unexpected emergencies.
“These reductions are aimed at reallocating resources to essential programs, thereby enhancing our service to the American public,” stated Andrew Nixon, an HHS spokesperson. “Our goal is straightforward: to cut waste and optimize every taxpayer dollar.”
This round of layoffs also impacted NIH employees at the National Cancer Institute, specifically those involved in communications and information services, as reported by CBS News.
An HHS spokesperson assured that the May 2 decision will not adversely affect the agency’s functions or programs, emphasizing that operations will continue smoothly.
