Related videos:
The administration of President Donald Trump announced on Thursday an ambitious plan to reduce the workforce of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by 10,000 jobs.
The Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., confirmed the measure and argued that the reduction aims to optimize the department's efficiency and redirect resources to new priorities, as reported by the Nuevo Herald.
With this cut, the HHS workforce will decrease from 82,000 to 62,000 employees, and when considering previous layoffs due to early retirements and severance agreements overseen by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, the number will be even lower.
According to the official statement, the restructuring will generate an estimated annual savings of $1.8 billion, which represents only 0.1% of the total HHS budget, amounting to $1.8 trillion.
"We are not just reducing bureaucratic expansion," said the controversial Kennedy Jr. "We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities to reverse the epidemic of chronic diseases."
The restructuring will significantly affect several agencies within HHS, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which will lose 3,500 employees.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will also face a reduction of 2,400 workers.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will also see a reduction of 1,200 staff members.
The plan also includes reducing the number of areas within the department from 28 to 15 and halving its regional offices.
Kennedy Jr.'s appointment has been criticized due to his history of anti-vaccine stances and his statements in favor of allowing the spread of diseases such as avian flu in poultry.
Scientists and public health experts have expressed their concern about the impact of these cuts on the HHS's ability to respond to health emergencies and regulate food and pharmaceutical safety in the country.
Since his return to the White House, Trump has driven an aggressive reduction of the government apparatus, resulting in mass layoffs that have sparked numerous legal disputes.
Recently, for instance, he ordered the dismantling of the Department of Education on the grounds that the institution has failed in its objective to improve the country's educational system despite the millions of resources invested.
Despite the criticism, the administration insists that these measures aim to make public resource use more efficient and to reframe the priorities of the healthcare system.
Frequently Asked Questions about Layoffs in the Department of Health under the Trump Administration
Why did the Trump administration decide to lay off 10,000 employees from the Department of Health?
The Donald Trump administration announced layoffs as part of a restructuring plan to optimize the efficiency of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). According to the Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the goal is to redirect resources to new priorities and reduce bureaucratic expansion.
Which HHS agencies will be most affected by the cuts in staffing?
Among the most affected agencies are the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The FDA will lose 3,500 employees, the CDC 2,400, and the NIH 1,200, which could impact their ability to perform their functions effectively.
How much savings will the HHS restructuring generate, and how does it compare to its total budget?
The restructuring of HHS will generate an estimated annual savings of $1.8 billion, which represents only 0.1% of its total budget, which amounts to $1.8 trillion. This savings is relatively small compared to the department's overall budget.
What impact could these cuts have on the public health system in the United States?
Budget cuts could impact HHS's ability to respond to health emergencies and regulate food and pharmaceutical safety in the country. Scientists and public health experts have expressed concern about the negative effects that these massive layoffs could have on public health.
Filed under: