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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Thursday plans to eliminate 10,000 full-time jobs across multiple agencies, a move that will downsize or shutter key public health programs as part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to restructure the federal government.
The sweeping reductions will impact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The administration also plans to consolidate 28 divisions within HHS into 15 under a newly created agency called the Administration for Healthy America (AHA).
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed the changes on X, stating, “We will eliminate an entire alphabet soup of departments while preserving their core functions.”
Major Cuts to CDC, FDA, and NIH
Among the hardest-hit agencies is the CDC, which will lose approximately 2,400 employees, with global health, HIV prevention, and injury prevention divisions being reduced or eliminated. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, which manages the nation’s emergency stockpile, will be moved from HHS to the CDC.
The FDA is set to cut 3,500 positions, while the NIH will reduce its workforce by 1,200 employees. Additionally, the CMS will lose 300 workers, though HHS maintains that Medicare and Medicaid services will not be affected.
HHS officials claim the reorganization will increase efficiency, but critics argue it will disrupt vital services. Larry Levitt, executive vice president of health policy at KFF, called the move a “massive reduction in the federal health workforce” that could lead to delays in public health responses, medical product approvals, and healthcare provider assistance.
Impact on Public Health and HIV Prevention
The restructuring raises concerns about the future of key health initiatives, including HIV prevention programs. The administration initially planned to shift responsibilities from the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which primarily focuses on treatment rather than prevention.
HIV advocates worry the change could set back decades of progress, particularly since HRSA lacks expertise in large-scale prevention efforts.
“This is not just a reorganization of HHS,” Levitt said. “It’s also a slashing of the federal workforce, which will ultimately affect government services.”
Concerns Over FDA and Drug Approval Delays
While HHS insists the FDA’s drug approval process will not be impacted, current FDA employees fear otherwise.
“The cuts to FDA will still adversely affect our mission, even if they’re not directly cutting reviewers,” said an anonymous FDA employee. “We’re only able to review because of a lot of back-end support.”
Leadership Shakeups at Health Agencies
The restructuring comes amid leadership changes at major health agencies. The Senate recently confirmed:
- Dr. Marty Makary, a pancreatic surgeon from Johns Hopkins University, as the new FDA commissioner.
- Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford professor of medicine, as the new NIH director.
- Dr. Mehmet Oz, former TV personality and surgeon, is awaiting Senate confirmation to lead CMS.
Meanwhile, the CDC faces internal turmoil, with five division leaders resigning earlier this month as the agency prepared for the workforce reduction.
Job Cuts Effective Immediately
According to an internal memo obtained by NBC News, affected employees will be notified of layoffs as early as Friday.
Although HHS officials claim no additional cuts are currently planned, the restructuring marks one of the most significant shake-ups in the federal health sector in decades.
With public health experts, lawmakers, and agency staff voicing concerns over the impact on essential services, the true consequences of the cuts remain uncertain as the administration moves forward with its workforce reduction plan.
