HHS to Reinstate 20% of Laid-Off Staff After Restructuring Errors

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledges missteps in sweeping layoffs and consolidations, with critical public health programs set to be restored.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. admitted that 20% of recent layoffs, affecting 10,000 employees, were mistakes and will be reversed.
Key programs, including the CDC's lead poisoning prevention initiative, are among those slated for reinstatement to address identified gaps.
The restructuring, part of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency initiative, aims to cut 20,000 positions and save $1.8 billion annually.
Laid-off employees are being asked to temporarily continue working through June 2 to ensure operational continuity during the transition.
Critics, including public health experts, warn the cuts have weakened essential functions like disease prevention, FDA inspections, and emergency preparedness.