Robert F Kennedy Jr, the HHS secretary of the United States, announced a far-reaching redesign on Thursday which will cut 10,000 jobs and close half of its regional offices. The action forms part of the agency’s plans to streamline as well as adopt new priorities with President Donald Trump’s administration.

These dismissals come after the resignation of another 10,000 HHS workers since January when Trump was sworn in, bringing the department’s staff down by a quarter to around 62,000 workers.

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“We are not simply cutting bureaucratic sprawl. We are restructuring the organization around its fundamental mission and our new priorities in ending the chronic disease epidemic,” Kennedy Jr said.

The restructuring is one of Trump’s plans, supported by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, to reduce the federal workforce and save the government money. Musk’s department has promised to “clean up” federal bureaucracy, saying that such reforms will ultimately save taxpayers money.

 

What’s Changing at HHS?

HHS, a $1.7 trillion agency, regulates vaccines, pharmaceuticals, public health, scientific research, and pandemic readiness. In the new plan, 28 current units will be merged into 15 divisions, including a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA), which will combine offices that deal with addiction, toxic chemicals, and workplace safety.

 

Who Will Be Impacted?

The Wall Street Journal reports that the cuts will affect several divisions, including:

  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA): 3,500 positions eliminated
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): 2,400 positions eliminated
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): 1,200 positions eliminated
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): 300 positions eliminated

The restructuring will have far-reaching impacts on public health programs, with critics sounding alarms about possible disruptions in services.