Massive job cuts and reforms planned for US health agencies

US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has unveiled an ambitious plan to streamline the nation’s public health agencies, slashing 10,000 jobs and restructuring key divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Reuters reported.

The FDA, CDC, and NIH are among the agencies significantly impacted by the cuts.

The reductions will eliminate 3,500 positions at the FDA, 2,400 at the CDC, and 1,200 at the NIH. Recent voluntary departures have already reduced the HHS workforce by 10,000, bringing total full-time employees down from 82,000 to 62,000.

"Over time, bureaucracies like HHS become wasteful and inefficient even when most of their staff are dedicated and competent civil servants," Kennedy stated. "This overhaul will be a win-win for taxpayers and for those that HHS serves."

The job cuts are part of President Donald Trump’s broader agenda to shrink federal agencies, with backing from billionaire Elon Musk, who oversees government efficiency initiatives. Earlier this month, Trump directed agencies to draft additional workforce reduction plans, which the White House is currently reviewing.

Experts warn that the cuts may have significant consequences for public health services. "This is not just a reorganization of HHS. It is also a slashing of the federal workforce, which will ultimately affect government services," said Larry Levitt, a former White House health adviser.

While the FDA has assured that frontline inspectors and drug reviewers will remain unaffected, legal experts caution that delays in drug approvals are likely. The restructuring will also consolidate agencies addressing addiction, environmental health, and workforce safety into a newly formed Administration for a Healthy America.

Despite concerns, HHS maintains that no further job reductions are planned at this time.