HHS Plans Major Cuts Amid Controversy Over FDA Reorganization

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it will reduce its workforce by 20,000 positions by the end of May, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This reduction, aimed at increasing efficiency and saving $1.8 billion annually, affects administrative roles across key agencies including the FDA, CDC, and NIH. Concerns about public health operations have been raised, with critics dubbing the cuts a 'catastrophe for healthcare.' Insiders express fears about FDA-approved drugs' safety post-restructuring, while Democratic lawmakers warn that these layoffs could derail responses to public health challenges.