U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has unveiled a major restructuring plan for federal public health agencies, including a reduction of 10,000 jobs and the consolidation of key functions within the FDA, CDC, and NIH.
The job cuts will affect 3,500 positions at the Food and Drug Administration, 2,400 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 1,200 at the National Institutes of Health. Combined with 10,000 voluntary departures in recent months, the HHS workforce will shrink from 82,000 to 62,000 employees.
Kennedy defended the move as a necessary measure to reduce inefficiencies. “Bureaucracies like HHS become wasteful over time, even when most staff are dedicated civil servants. This overhaul will benefit taxpayers and improve public health services,” he said.
Critics warn that the cuts could disrupt drug approvals and patient access to treatments. “There’s a real risk of delays in drug and medical device reviews,” said Eva Temkin, a regulatory lawyer.
The restructuring will also consolidate 28 HHS divisions into 15, including a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA) to oversee addiction, occupational safety, and toxic substances. Additionally, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response will be merged into the CDC.
While Kennedy calls the plan a step toward efficiency, health policy experts caution that drastic workforce reductions could undermine critical public health programs. The restructuring is set to take effect in the coming months.
