Article Summary:
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced mass layoffs, with 10,000 job cuts expected, including employees working on tobacco addiction, mental health, and workplace safety. The cuts will impact around 3,500 employees at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and 2,400 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one-fifth of the workforce at these public health divisions.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated the changes are necessary to shift the department’s focus towards prevention rather than just “sick care.” However, critics argue the scale of the cuts makes it unlikely the department can maintain essential health services.
The layoffs have drawn bipartisan criticism, with the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions requesting Kennedy testify about the restructuring. The cuts have significantly impacted key health initiatives, including the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health and the FDA’s tobacco regulation efforts.
Other areas hit hard include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health. Experts warn these cuts will hamper crucial public health research and policy, potentially benefiting industries like tobacco and harming vulnerable populations.
Overall, the mass layoffs at HHS have sparked outrage and concern about the department’s ability to fulfill its public health mission effectively under the new leadership.
Article Excerpt:
The layoffs are expected to impact 3,500 employees at the Food and Drug Administration and 2,400 employees from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — nearly one-fifth of the workforce at both public health divisions, which fall under HHS.