RFK Jr. plans 10,000 HHS job cuts

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Plans to Slash 10,000 Full-Time Employees Across Different Departments

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to reduce the federal workforce by 10,000 full-time employees across different departments, as he works to reshape the nation’s federal health agencies. This move is part of a major restructuring effort aimed at improving the department’s efficiency and reducing costs.

Cuts Across Different Departments

The department will cut jobs at divisions responsible for offering insurance to the poorest Americans, approving new drugs, and responding to disease outbreaks. The major restructuring comes as the US grapples with one of the worst measles outbreaks in more than two decades, and as bird flu spreads in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and US dairy cows, with several recent human cases.

Regional Offices to be Closed

HHS will also drop five of its 10 regional offices, but it said essential health services won’t be affected. "We aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic," Kennedy said. "This Department will do more – a lot more – at a lower cost to the taxpayer."

Savings and Impact

The department said the cuts will save the government about $1.8 billion per year. The federal government spent roughly $6.8 trillion in fiscal 2024.

Employees Impacted

The following employees will be cut, according to the Journal:

• 3,500 full-time employees from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or about 19% of its workforce
• 2,400 workers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or roughly 18% of its staff
• 1,200 employees from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), or about 6% of its workforce
• 300 workers from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), or roughly 4% of its employees

New Subdivision

As part of the restructuring, Kennedy is consolidating the department’s 28 current divisions into 15 new ones, which HHS said will "centralize core functions" such as human resources, information technology, procurement, external affairs, and policy.

Implications of the Cuts

Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, said in a statement Thursday that "American families are going to be hurt by layoffs and closures of this magnitude, full stop." "The chaos that is coming will guarantee that kids and seniors fall through the cracks with deadly consequences," he said.

Experts Weigh In

Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at KFF, said there is "a benefit to occasional reorganizations of HHS to achieve better coordination and efficiency," which has happened under both Republican and Democratic administrations. However, he warned that the plans are "not just a reorganization of HHS" as they involve cutting the federal workforce, which will ultimately affect government services.

Conclusion

The major restructuring effort aims to improve the department’s efficiency and reduce costs. While some experts argue that there is a benefit to occasional reorganizations of HHS, others warn that the plans may have unintended consequences, such as delays in services and increased frustration among patients and health care providers.

FAQs

Q: What is the purpose of the major restructuring effort?
A: The effort aims to improve the department’s efficiency and reduce costs.

Q: Which departments will be affected by the cuts?
A: The following departments will be affected: Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Q: What is the expected impact of the cuts?
A: The cuts are expected to save the government about $1.8 billion per year. However, some experts warn that the plans may have unintended consequences, such as delays in services and increased frustration among patients and health care providers.