Layoffs Begin at U.S. Health Agencies Amid Overhaul/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Mass layoffs began Tuesday at federal health agencies under a major restructuring of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The overhaul, supported by President Trump, could eliminate 10,000 jobs. Critics warn the cuts will harm public health and disaster readiness.
Layoffs Begin at U.S. Health Agencies Amid Trump-Backed Overhaul: Quick Looks
- Up to 10,000 HHS employees to be laid off; 10,000 more have taken early retirement or buyouts.
- HHS restructuring includes new agency consolidation under the “Administration for a Healthy America.”
- Food and Drug Administration, CDC, NIH, and Medicare/Medicaid programs hit hardest.
- Trump ends collective bargaining rights for federal health workers.
- Critics warn of weakened disaster response and health infrastructure.
- States begin cutting jobs due to rollback of COVID-19 funds.
- Kennedy calls the department a “sprawling bureaucracy” failing to improve public health.
- Unions and Democrats strongly oppose the cuts and erosion of labor rights.
Deep Look: Massive Layoffs Hit U.S. Health Agencies Amid Sweeping HHS Restructuring
On Tuesday, employees across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began receiving formal notices of termination, as the agency undergoes a radical restructuring ordered by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and supported by President Donald Trump. The overhaul, expected to eliminate up to 10,000 federal jobs, marks one of the most significant reductions in the nation’s public health workforce in recent history.
Scope of the Layoffs
Kennedy’s plan aims to reduce the size of HHS by nearly 25%, cutting its workforce from approximately 82,000 to 62,000. The department announced that an additional 10,000 employees had already exited through early retirement and voluntary separation incentives.
Among the most affected agencies:
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA): 3,500 jobs cut
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 2,400 jobs cut
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): 1,200 jobs cut
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): 300 jobs cut
HHS officials stated that layoffs will primarily target positions deemed “redundant,” located in high-cost regions, or those in departments such as human resources, procurement, finance, and IT.
Kennedy Defends Restructuring, Launches New Agency
Last week, Kennedy unveiled the reorganization plan in a video message, saying the department had become a “sprawling bureaucracy” with a $1.7 trillion budget that has “failed to improve the health of Americans.”
“I want to promise you now that we’re going to do more with less,” Kennedy declared.
The plan includes consolidating agencies responsible for addiction services and community health centers into a newly created body called the Administration for a Healthy America.
Labor Rights Rolled Back for Health Workers
Just days before the layoffs, President Trump signed an executive order eliminating collective bargaining rights for employees at HHS and several other federal agencies, including the CDC. The move has drawn immediate backlash from labor unions and Democratic lawmakers.
“This is a direct attack on the rights of federal employees,” said Reps. Gerald Connolly and Bobby Scott of Virginia. “It robs these workers of their hard-fought protections.”
Union leaders confirmed they had received notices indicating 8,000 to 10,000 terminations. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents about 2,000 CDC employees in Atlanta, reported a surge in interest from non-union workers trying to join before the executive order took effect.
Democrats Warn of Public Health Risks
Lawmakers and public health officials are sounding alarms over the risks posed by the cuts. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) called the layoffs reckless during an ongoing measles outbreak, warning that HHS is now ill-equipped to manage public health crises and natural disasters.
“They may as well be renaming it the Department of Disease,” Murray said. “Their plan is putting lives in serious jeopardy.”
Others worry the cuts will slow medical research, weaken drug and food safety inspections, and hinder the federal response to future pandemics.
State and Local Health Departments Hit by Funding Cuts
In addition to the federal cuts, state and local health departments are beginning to lay off employees due to HHS’s decision to reclaim over $11 billion in unused COVID-19 funding.
According to Lori Tremmel Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, some departments have already lost hundreds of positions, in some cases “overnight.”
“We’re still assessing the full impact, but the damage is already visible,” Freeman said.
Partisan Reactions Reflect Broader Battle Over Government Size
The sweeping changes at HHS reflect a broader debate over the size and role of the federal government. Trump and his allies, including Elon Musk, have championed aggressive downsizing and deregulation. Critics argue that such cuts weaken essential services and hand too much power to private interests.
In their joint statement, Connolly and Scott added, “This will only give Elon Musk more power to dismantle the people’s government with as little resistance from dedicated civil servants as possible.”
What Comes Next
As layoffs continue over the coming weeks, the Biden-era health infrastructure is being rapidly dismantled. The ripple effects will be felt across agencies responsible for:
- Infectious disease tracking
- Medical research and grants
- Food and drug safety
- Health insurance oversight for millions of Americans
While Kennedy and Trump argue the overhaul will streamline efficiency, critics warn the true cost will be measured in public health failures and eroded trust in government.
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