Major Job Cuts and Structural Reforms Announced for U.S. Health Agencies
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has unveiled a major restructuring plan aimed at improving efficiency within the country’s public health agencies. The initiative will result in the elimination of 10,000 jobs and a reorganization of key divisions within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to a report by Reuters.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and National Institutes of Health (NIH) are among the agencies most affected by these workforce reductions.
The plan includes cutting 3,500 positions at the FDA, 2,400 at the CDC, and 1,200 at the NIH. Additionally, recent voluntary departures have already lowered the HHS workforce from 82,000 to approximately 62,000 employees.
Kennedy emphasized the need for change, stating, “Over time, large bureaucracies like HHS tend to become inefficient, even when staffed with skilled and dedicated professionals. This reform will benefit both taxpayers and those who rely on HHS services.”
These job cuts align with former President Donald Trump’s broader federal downsizing strategy, which has received support from billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has been involved in government efficiency initiatives. Earlier this month, Trump directed various federal agencies to prepare further workforce reduction plans, which are currently under White House review.
Experts have raised concerns about the potential impact on public health services. Former White House health adviser Larry Levitt warned, “This isn’t just an internal restructuring—it significantly reduces the federal workforce, which could ultimately disrupt essential government services.”
The FDA has reassured the public that frontline inspectors and drug approval specialists will not be affected by the changes. However, legal analysts suggest that the reforms could lead to delays in drug approval processes. Additionally, various agencies focusing on addiction treatment, environmental health, and workplace safety will be merged into a newly established entity, the Administration for a Healthy America.
Despite these significant changes, HHS has stated that no further job reductions are planned at this time.
