3 days Ago By Marc Washington
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced a plan to reduce the department's workforce by 20,000 jobs,.
As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, about 10,000 jobs will be cut through layoffs, with the remaining reductions coming from buyouts and early retirements.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is set to lose 2,400 jobs as part of the overhaul, which will refocus the CDC primarily on epidemic response. Kennedy said, "This restructuring allows us to put our resources where they are needed most," according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
Several divisions, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Health Resources and Services Administration, will be eliminated.Kennedy justified the cuts by pointing to the inefficiency of large bureaucracies, saying, "Over time, bureaucracies like HHS become wasteful and inefficient even when most of their staff are dedicated and competent civil servants," as reported by Reuters. However, some experts are concerned about the impact of the cuts.
Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at KFF, stated, "This is not just a reorganization of HHS. It is also a slashing of the federal workforce, which will ultimately affect government services," according to Reuters. There are also concerns that the cuts could delay drug and medical device reviews, affecting timely access to treatments.
HHS will consolidate 28 divisions into 15 and create the Administration for a Healthy America, which will centralize offices related to addiction, toxic substances, and occupational safety. Kennedy described the effort as aiming to Make America Healthy Again, aligning with broader cost-cutting initiatives by President Trump and Elon Musk.The cuts are set to begin immediately, but no exact timeline has been provided for the full implementation.
The long-term impact on public health services like Medicare and Medicaid remains uncertain..
