The Trump administration has now reportedly announced significant cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), reducing its workforce by approximately 20,000 employees.
This restructuring aims to streamline operations and eliminate redundancies within the agency.
Current records indicate that HHS employed around 92,620 people as of September 2024, which was an increase from the 81,917 employees at the end of Trump’s previous term.
The cuts include around 10,000 layoffs, alongside the elimination of unfilled positions.
Beyond the immediate layoffs, thousands of jobs have already been vacated due to recent departures and other cuts to contractor and fellowship roles. HHS officials estimate that these changes will save taxpayers approximately $1.8 billion.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has outlined specific job reductions within key agencies, including 3,500 positions from the Food and Drug Administration and 1,200 from the National Institutes of Health.
However, the administration assures that critical functions such as drug and food safety reviews will remain unaffected.
At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), staffing will reduce by about 2,400 employees to reorient the agency back to its core mission of epidemic preparedness.
Additionally, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will decrease its workforce by approximately 300 employees.
Kennedy emphasized that the cuts are primarily directed at administrative roles, with a focus on areas deemed redundant or high-cost.
He expressed that the federal workforce, including HHS, is currently downsizing, and this period will be challenging for the agency.
The restructuring is part of a broader effort overseen by a cost-cutting task force, and it aims to improve efficiency while redirecting resources towards frontline health providers and scientific staff.
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