Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has yet to explain the decision to eliminate a quarter of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services workforce, a move that triggered bipartisan concern and confusion across Washington.
Amanda Seitz reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- HHS has begun laying off up to 10,000 employees, including scientists, doctors, and inspectors, affecting key agencies like the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health.
- Kennedy claims the restructuring aims to realign the department’s mission and reduce chronic disease, but lawmakers from both parties are demanding clarity.
- Critics warn the cuts could weaken food safety, drug oversight, medical research, and disease prevention; many details remain undisclosed by the department.
Key quote:
“This overhaul is about realigning HHS with its core mission: to stop the chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again. It’s a win-win for taxpayers, and for every American we serve.”
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services
Why this matters:
A proposed 25% reduction in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services workforce has sent shockwaves through the public health community, particularly because the cuts would target core science agencies like the CDC and NIH. As bipartisan concern grows on Capitol Hill, the deeper fear is that such cuts could signal a long-term shift away from evidence-based public health policymaking. With trust in institutions already fraying, further weakening their scientific backbone may have consequences that ripple far beyond the budget ledger, into the health and resilience of communities nationwide.
Learn more: Kennedy slashes federal health department, leaving thousands of workers in limbo
