Some HHS employees received termination notices as early as 5 a.m.|American Life League|CC BY-NC 2.0
The Health and Human Services Department (HHS) laid off 10,000 employees on Tuesday, cutting doctors, researchers, and support staff. Another 10,000 workers took early retirement or voluntary separation, reducing HHS personnel by nearly 25%.
The overhaul aims to save $1.8 billion annually—just 0.1% of HHS’s $1.7 trillion budget.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended the cuts, saying the agency needs a “recalibration” toward disease prevention.
Some employees received termination notices as early as 5 a.m., while others had to find out after being denied building access. According to the AP, hundreds of employees waited outside the HHS headquarters building in Washington DC to find out the status of their jobs.
The FDA lost 3,500 positions, including staff regulating tobacco, drugs and food safety. The CDC cut 2,400 jobs, eliminating programs on smoking, infectious diseases and air quality.
Critics warn the cuts will weaken public health responses. A coalition of state attorneys general is suing, arguing the move endangers public health programs.