The massive layoffs reportedly began Tuesday in the Health and Human Services Department as part of a “restructuring” of the department in order to coordinate with President Donald Trump's executive order.
The restructuring is expected to reduce the 82,000 federal health employees to 62,000.
The department is preparing to make significant cuts in recent weeks, particularly across health agencies related to administrative and DEI-related spending.
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HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was a critic of the food industry, encouraging Americans to eat less produced food. (Getty/Istock)
According to HHS, The layoffs “streamline” the department's functions by “saving $1.8 billion a year for taxpayers,” while ensuring essential services such as Medicare and Medicaid continue without disruption. The layoffs were announced last week.
HHS oversees several key institutions that may see some sort of reconstruction: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Management (SAMHSHSHSA), Medical Resources and Health Services (HRSA), ACF) Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
“We're not only reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We're re-aligning our organization with core missions and new priorities to reverse the chronic disease epidemic.” “This sector does more at a lower cost for taxpayers.”
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HHS has concluded over 500 research grants, over $350 million in grant funding for gender ideology and DEI research projects. (Getty Images/Fox News)
The new plan will reduce the number of HHS departments from 28 to 15. One important change involves creating administration for the Healthy America (AHA). Additionally, HHS has reorganised its local offices, reducing it from 10 to 5.
Other changes include creating a new assistant enforcement secretary to tackle federal health program fraud and abuse, according to HHS.
Another major focus of the restructuring is addressing the growing “chronic disease epidemic” in America. The plan focuses on clean food, water and air while working to eliminate environmental toxins that contribute to health problems. The CDC also gains additional authority by absorbing the administration for strategic preparation and response (ASPR) to deal with national disasters and public health emergencies.
“As time goes by, bureaucrats like HHS become futile and inefficient even when most staff are dedicated and capable civil servants,” Kennedy said. “This overhaul is beneficial to both taxpayers and those who are useful to HHS. It's the whole American masses. Our goal is to make America healthy again.”
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Currently, Secretary Kennedy is seen here in his testimony in the Senate. (Getty Images)
The Associated Press reported Tuesday morning that hundreds of federal health workers wrapped the HHS building in two rows to see if they still have jobs.
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The massive layoffs reportedly began Tuesday at Health and Human Services agencies as part of a “restructuring” of the department in order to coincide with President Donald Trump's executive order. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, Getty Images)
Former FDA commissioner Dr. Robert Caliph wrote in a LinkedIn post Tuesday morning that he “knows that the FDA is over,” adding that “most of the leaders with institutional knowledge and a deep understanding of product development and safety are no longer employed.”
“I believe history thinks this is a big mistake. If I prove wrong, I'll become a trend, but there's still no good reason to treat people like this. It would be interesting to hear plans to bring the 'Humpty Dumpty' back together from new leadership,” writes Caliph.
