HHS Restructuring Sparks Concerns Over Public Health Expertise and Safety

A 20,000-employee reduction under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces criticism for jeopardizing critical programs and creating operational chaos.

The Trump administration is restructuring HHS, merging agencies into a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA) and cutting 20,000 jobs to focus on chronic disease management.
Public health experts and HHS employees warn that the layoffs risk dismantling essential programs, including vaccine oversight, infectious disease research, and occupational health initiatives.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. admitted that 20% of the layoffs were erroneous and pledged to reinstate affected employees, highlighting significant implementation challenges.
Critics argue the reorganization reflects ideologically driven policies, with concerns over anti-vaccine sentiment and the sidelining of evidence-based public health programs.
Key agencies like the CDC, FDA, and NIH face significant workforce reductions, leaving critical research and health initiatives in limbo, with experts predicting long-term impacts on public health.