WASHINGTON, April 1 – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began issuing mass layoff notices on Tuesday as part of a sweeping overhaul aimed at shrinking federal health agencies, cutting nearly a quarter of its workforce.
The cuts affect researchers, doctors, scientists, and senior officials across key agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended the move, calling it a “recalibration” to emphasize disease prevention.
“The revolution begins today!” Kennedy wrote on social media, shortly after new leadership was sworn in, including Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as NIH Director and Martin Makary as FDA Commissioner. He later acknowledged the layoffs, saying, “Our hearts go out to those who lost their jobs.”
Impact on Health Agencies
HHS said the layoffs, combined with early retirements and voluntary departures, would cut 20,000 jobs and save $1.8 billion annually. The department’s budget, primarily spent on Medicare and Medicaid, totals $1.7 trillion.
- NIH: Directors of at least four institutes placed on leave, with staff offered reassignment to Indian Health Service locations.
- CDC: Nine high-level directors placed on leave, major public health programs on smoking, lead poisoning, and infectious disease response eliminated.
- FDA: 3,500 jobs cut, including the entire team responsible for drafting new e-cigarette regulations.
- CMS: 300 job cuts affecting oversight of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act.
Political and Legal Fallout
Democrats and public health officials warned the cuts would weaken the U.S. response to health emergencies. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) called the restructuring “dangerous,” saying it could cripple efforts to combat outbreaks like measles.
The layoffs follow President Donald Trump’s move to strip collective bargaining rights from HHS employees. A coalition of state attorneys general has sued the administration, arguing the cuts are unlawful and could disrupt mental health and addiction services.
HHS also announced the withdrawal of $11 billion in COVID-19 relief funds, triggering additional layoffs at state and local health departments.
Uncertain Future
Employees learned of their terminations through early morning emails or by discovering their security badges no longer worked. Some gathered outside HHS offices and at local coffee shops after being turned away.
“The FDA as we’ve known it is finished,” said former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, warning that the loss of experienced regulators could compromise drug safety and public health protections. With legal challenges looming and public health experts voicing concerns, the impact of the cuts is expected to be felt across the country in the months ahead.
