• Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to lay off about 10,000 employees from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• The restructuring aims to reduce the workforce from 82,000 to approximately 62,000, including previous early retirements.
• The initiative seeks to save $1.8 billion annually and is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to cut spending.
• Critics express concerns over the potential impacts on public health and safety, especially amid ongoing health crises.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is set to undergo a significant overhaul as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the reduction of its workforce by 10,000 employees. This move, part of President Donald Trump's broader initiative to cut federal spending, will decrease the department’s current staff from approximately 82,000 to 62,000. Kennedy stated during a video announcement that the restructuring is aimed at "realigning the organization with its core mission" and targeting chronic disease issues, while also saving taxpayers an estimated $1.8 billion per year.

The cuts are expected to significantly impact agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each set to lose about 3,500 and 2,400 positions respectively. HHS will also consolidate its 28 divisions into 15, creating a new entity known as the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA).

While Kennedy stressed that the cuts would not affect front-line workers, critics, including former officials and public health advocates, are voicing alarm over what they term a “manmade disaster” that threatens essential health services and oversight capacities. Senator Patty Murray criticized the plan, calling it a "catastrophe for the health care of every American," highlighting concerns about diminished capabilities in addressing ongoing public health crises, including the recent measles outbreak.

The restructuring signals a dramatic shift in HHS's operation, with a renewed focus on efficiency. Kennedy pointed out that existing bureaucratic structures, including over a hundred communications and dozens of procurement offices, often operated redundantly without effective communication. This overhaul is framed as an attempt to streamline the agency, aligning all staff behind a single mission to “Make America Healthy Again” while promising that essential scientific functions will remain intact. As the changes loom, the health community remains apprehensive about the implications of such sweeping staff reductions.

For detailed insights, refer to Los Angeles Times and CBS News.