The department, headed by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is expected to decrease its staff from 82,000 federal health employees to 62,000, which is expected to save taxpayers $1.8 billion annually.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration reportedly issued layoff notices to thousands of employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of its efforts to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse by downsizing federal agencies. The department, headed by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is expected to decrease its staff from 82,000 federal health employees to 62,000, which is expected to save taxpayers $1.8 billion annually.
The HHS said in a press release issued on March 27 that its restructuring is in accordance with President Trump's executive order, "Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency' Workforce Optimization Initiative." The recent staff cuts pertain to administrative costs and DEI-related spending, Fox News reported.
The 28 divisions of the HHS are expected to be consolidated into 15 new divisions, and regional offices will be reduced from 10 to 5, the agency said. The new divisions will centralize core functions such as Human Resources, Information Technology, Procurement, External Affairs, and Police. Additionally, the HHS announced the creation of a new division, the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA).
The department stated that the new HHS priority will be to end the epidemic of chronic illness in the United States by emphasizing the elimination of environmental toxins, safe and wholesome food, and clean water. According to the agency, the reorganization of HHS is reflective of these priorities.
"We aren't just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "This Department will do more - a lot more - at a lower cost to the taxpayer."
Additionally, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), which manages national catastrophe and public health situations, will be absorbed by the CDC, giving it more jurisdiction.
"Over time, bureaucracies like HHS become wasteful and inefficient even when most of their staff are dedicated and competent civil servants," Kennedy continued. "This overhaul will be a win-win for taxpayers and for those that HHS serves. That's the entire American public, because our goal is to Make America Healthy Again."
According to Newsweek, officials intend to cut 10,000 jobs through layoffs and another 10,000 roles through voluntary separations and early retirement.
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