On Thursday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled plans to significantly reduce the workforce at the Department of Health and Human Services by almost 25%, as part of an extensive overhaul aimed at merging multiple divisions.
The Department of Health states that these reductions will lead to savings of $1.8 billion each year and, when coupled with earlier cutbacks, will lower the workforce from 82,000 full-time positions to 62,000.
As part of a restructuring initiative, the total count of health department divisions will be reduced from 28 to 15, which includes the introduction of a new entity named the Administration for a Healthy America, referred to as AHA. Additionally, the quantity of regional offices is set to decrease from 10 down to five.
We’re not merely cutting down on administrative complexity,” stated the Health Secretary. “Instead, we are restructuring the department to align closely with its primary objectives and our updated focus on combating the chronic disease crisis. Under this approach, the department will accomplish significantly more—much more—at a reduced expense for taxpayers.
Since Kennedy, who opposes certain vaccines and pushes for enhanced food safety measures, assumed office with promises of sweeping reforms, many within the national and international public health sectors have braced themselves for significant shifts.
The main focus of Kennedy’s reductions is the Food and Drug Administration, an organization tasked with guaranteeing the safety and effectiveness of food, medications, medical equipment, tobacco, and various other controlled items. This initiative aims to decrease its staff by 3,500 full-time workers—a downsizing that impacts the health sector significantly.
fact sheet
stated “will have no effect on drug, medical device, or food evaluators, nor will it influence inspectors.”
The CDC, a large organization with an annual budget of $9 billion dedicated to preventing chronic illnesses, combating infectious disease epidemics, and issuing vaccination guidelines, plans to reduce its workforce by 2,400 employees.
Dr. Tom Frieden, the ex-director of the CDC who currently serves as the president and CEO of the public health initiative Resolve to Save Lives, stated that Kennedy’s proposals were not expected to lead to increased effectiveness.
Frieden stated in a press release to The Times, “Dividing the agency by relocating specialists focused on non-communicable illnesses into yet another new entity is inefficient; this merely generates additional bureaucratic layers.” He further explained, “The occurrence of infectious diseases cannot be viewed in isolation since underlying chronic conditions significantly influence our ability to comprehend and manage these infections.”
Frieden stated that the CDC has served as the “pinnacle of public health for decades,” dedicated to its “primary objective of saving lives and safeguarding individuals against various health risks.”
None of the other parts of the federal government have the extensive reach and comprehensive oversight needed for tracking, comprehending, and aiding both communities and healthcare providers in combating our top health threats,” stated Frieden. “The CDC has played an instrumental role in saving countless lives—not only from contagious illnesses but also from conditions like cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and other major causes of mortality among Americans. Additionally, they’ve improved roadway safety and helped prevent injuries and drug overdoses.
The main U.S. federal institution responsible for funding and carrying out medical research, the National Institutes of Health, plans to reduce its workforce by 1,200 employees.
A previous NIH executive and someone who criticized the Trump administration stated that these cuts would lead to significant repercussions.
“You can’t reduce the workforce so significantly without considerably downsizing the activities of the NIH and HHS,” stated Nate Broughton.
resigned
Last month, he stepped down from his role as the director of NIH’s Executive Secretariat. “It simply can’t be done,” he stated.
Brought expressed concern that research focused on the LGBT community and AIDS might be entirely discontinued, and he feared that investigations into cancer and pediatric illnesses could suffer as well.
“We’ve witnessed cuts in funding for HIV and AIDS support and, to an extent, research, and now I wouldn’t be shocked if much of that gets eliminated too,” he stated. “Cancer research is incredibly significant… Any reduction in funds aimed at treating pediatric illnesses will undoubtedly pose major issues. I believe Americans won’t stand for sacrificing children’s lives to achieve political objectives.”
In an address posted to the social media platform X on Thursday, Kennedy painted a dark, apocalyptic picture of the U.S health department, noting that as its budget and staff increased, all that money has failed to improve the health of Americans.
He stated that the incidence of chronic diseases and cancers has surged significantly as our department expanded. Our life expectancy has decreased, with Americans now living about six years less than their European counterparts. Consequently, we boast the unhealthiest country globally, coupled with the highest prevalence of chronic illnesses. Despite this, the U.S. ranks at the bottom when compared to 40 industrialized countries in healthcare outcomes; however, we expend two to three times more money per person than these nations do.
Kennedy referred to his department as an “inefficient” and “bulging bureaucracy,” noting that despite the rise in its funding, incidences of cancer and persistent diseases continued to climb.
When I got here, I discovered that over fifty percent of our staff members do not show up for work,” Kennedy stated. “The HHS boasts over 100 communication units along with more than 40 information technology divisions and numerous purchasing sections as well as nine human resources departments. Often times, these groups fail to communicate amongst themselves. Instead, they function primarily within isolated compartments.
In the Biden administration, Kennedy stated that the health department’s budget saw an increase of 38%, accompanied by a rise in staff numbers by 17%.
“But despite all that money, it hasn’t improved the health of Americans,” he stated.
Dorit Reiss, a law professor at UC San Francisco with expertise in public health, challenged the idea that the country’s health organizations had an excess workforce.
She stated that if anything, the FDA and CDC are understaffed, lacking the personnel required to tackle the numerous challenges we currently face,” adding that the country was experiencing a measles outbreak. ‘Now is not the appropriate moment to reduce funding for an agency that’s at the forefront of combating this issue,’ she emphasized.
The newly established Administration for a Healthy America—which aims to “better streamline chronic illness management and preventive measures while ensuring equitable access to healthcare services for underprivileged individuals”—will consist of several departments such as Primary Care, Maternal and Child Health, Mental Health, Environmental Health, HIV/AIDS, and Workforce Development.
Kennedy acknowledged that restructuring the department would bring about a “difficult time” for the organization. However, he expressed his desire for every employee to unite behind “a clear, ambitious objective.”
I hope each HHS staff member starts their day by pondering, ‘How can I contribute to improving America’s health today?’ It is crucial for all members of the HHS community to feel motivated, proud, and personally accountable towards achieving our broader objective. By doing so, we will save taxpayers close to $2 billion annually and realign HHS with its initial pledge to enhance public well-being.
However, it was mentioned that the government has never been less efficient than it is currently under the Trump administration.
“At this juncture, spirits are at their lowest, efficiency is at their poorest, and now you’re planning to add something like this on top,” he stated.
Individuals who consistently hear that they might lose their job or that their position is at risk,” he continued, “are unable to perform at their peak efficiency and quality compared to how they used to.
This tale initially surfaced in
Los Angeles Times
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