The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is undergoing a significant transformation, with plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 10,000 employees. This move is part of a broader effort to restructure federal health agencies and align operations with new priorities, officials announced on Thursday.
Reshaping the Federal Health Workforce
These reductions come on top of nearly 10,000 voluntary departures from HHS since the beginning of the current administration. As a result, the department’s workforce will shrink by nearly 25%, leaving around 62,000 employees in place.
HHS, a government entity managing a $1.7 trillion budget, oversees essential public health functions, including vaccine distribution, medical research, disease control, and healthcare services for millions of Americans through Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act.
The planned cuts will affect divisions responsible for health insurance programs for low-income individuals, pharmaceutical approvals, and outbreak response strategies. According to reports, these job reductions aim to streamline operations and reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies while maintaining essential healthcare services.
Impact on Public Health Services
This workforce reduction comes amid pressing public health challenges, including a nationwide measles outbreak and the spread of avian influenza among wildlife and livestock, with some human cases recently reported. Despite the cuts, HHS assures the public that vital healthcare services will remain operational.
Additionally, five out of ten regional HHS offices will be closed, although officials stress that this restructuring will not disrupt essential services. The initiative is expected to save the government approximately $1.8 billion annually.
Key Workforce Reductions
The staff reductions will be distributed across multiple agencies within HHS:
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA): 3,500 positions eliminated (19% of workforce)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 2,400 positions eliminated (18% of workforce)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): 1,200 positions eliminated (6% of workforce)
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): 300 positions eliminated (4% of workforce)
Structural Reorganization and New Initiatives
To improve efficiency, the department will consolidate its 28 divisions into 15 streamlined units. These changes aim to centralize functions such as human resources, IT services, policy development, and external communications.
One major structural change is the creation of the Administration for a Healthy America, a new division merging multiple offices focused on public health concerns, including addiction services, mental health, environmental health, and occupational safety. Agencies integrated under this umbrella include:
- The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
- Health Resources and Services Administration
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
HHS officials state that this merger will enhance resource coordination for vulnerable populations, emphasizing primary care, maternal and child health, mental health, and workforce development.
Shifting Responsibilities and Policy Changes
Another key change is the relocation of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)—responsible for pandemic preparedness and national disaster response—under the CDC. Previously, ASPR operated as a standalone division within HHS.
Health policy experts acknowledge that restructuring efforts can sometimes improve efficiency, but warn that significant workforce reductions could lead to longer response times and potential service delays. With fewer personnel overseeing healthcare regulations and fraud prevention, experts anticipate increased operational challenges.
New Health Policy Direction
The administration has outlined a strong commitment to overhauling public health policy, with a focus on reducing chronic diseases and promoting nutrition-based health strategies. Leadership has also expressed intentions to reassess vaccine policies, including the childhood immunization schedule and advisory committees guiding vaccine approvals.
These reforms are part of a broader Make America Healthy Again initiative, which prioritizes preventive care and aims to shift the focus of public health efforts from pharmaceutical solutions to holistic, nutrition-driven approaches.
As the HHS restructuring unfolds, stakeholders will closely monitor its impact on public health services, regulatory oversight, and healthcare accessibility for millions of Americans.
