RFK Jr. plans to slash 20,000 HHS jobs

By KATELYN CARALLE, SENIOR U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER

Published: | Updated:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is preparing to cut an eye-popping percentage of the Health and Human Services workforce by eliminating 13 of the agency's divisions. In a move inspired by President Donald Trump 's Department of Government Efficiency, HHS is the next to be gutted as the Secretary says he is seeking to slash 20,000 jobs, bringing the total staff from 82,000 to 62,000.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is preparing to cut an eye-popping percentage of the Health and Human Services workforce by eliminating 13 of the agency's divisions. In a move inspired by President Donald Trump 's Department of Government Efficiency, HHS is the next to be gutted as the Secretary says he is seeking to slash 20,000 jobs, bringing the total staff from 82,000 to 62,000.

RFK Jr. made the announcement on Thursday about the impending cuts to the massive federal agency that oversees Medicare, Medicaid and the Centers for Disease Control . In a six-minute video, Kennedy says he will reduce the agency's divisions to 15 from the current 28 and reduce the number of regional offices from 10 to five.

RFK Jr. made the announcement on Thursday about the impending cuts to the massive federal agency that oversees Medicare, Medicaid and the Centers for Disease Control . In a six-minute video, Kennedy says he will reduce the agency's divisions to 15 from the current 28 and reduce the number of regional offices from 10 to five.

'We're going to do more with less. No American is going to be left behind,' he said. 'We're going to consolidate all of these departments and make them accountable to you, the American taxpayer and the American patient.' A press release on the job cuts claims the measure will save HHS $1.8 billion annually. Half of the 20,000 employees took buyouts or early retirement options to leave HHS, while the other 10,000 will lose their jobs in coming weeks.

'We're going to do more with less. No American is going to be left behind,' he said. 'We're going to consolidate all of these departments and make them accountable to you, the American taxpayer and the American patient.' A press release on the job cuts claims the measure will save HHS $1.8 billion annually. Half of the 20,000 employees took buyouts or early retirement options to leave HHS, while the other 10,000 will lose their jobs in coming weeks.

Kennedy plans to create a new division within HHS called the Administration for a Healthy America to serve key functions and focus on 'safe, wholesome food, clean water, and the elimination of environmental toxins,' according to the release. RFK Jr. is highly controversial due to his anti-vaccine stance. But he was confirmed earlier this year to lead the department tasked with handling at the federal level Americans' healthcare, medicine and vaccine regulations and other key health-related recommendations.

Kennedy plans to create a new division within HHS called the Administration for a Healthy America to serve key functions and focus on 'safe, wholesome food, clean water, and the elimination of environmental toxins,' according to the release. RFK Jr. is highly controversial due to his anti-vaccine stance. But he was confirmed earlier this year to lead the department tasked with handling at the federal level Americans' healthcare, medicine and vaccine regulations and other key health-related recommendations.

He vowed to 'Make America Healthy Again' by eliminating unnecessary and potentially dangerous substances in food and giving more freedom to Americans to make their own health-related decisions – like getting vaccines or seeking alternative medicines in their healthcare network. Kennedy said in his video posted to X that while the HHS budget has inflated in recent years, so have the rates of cancer and other chronic diseases. He also noted that Americans' lifespans have dropped despite a higher focus on the health agency.

He vowed to 'Make America Healthy Again' by eliminating unnecessary and potentially dangerous substances in food and giving more freedom to Americans to make their own health-related decisions – like getting vaccines or seeking alternative medicines in their healthcare network. Kennedy said in his video posted to X that while the HHS budget has inflated in recent years, so have the rates of cancer and other chronic diseases. He also noted that Americans' lifespans have dropped despite a higher focus on the health agency.

He acknowledged that there might be a 'painful period' of transition while cuts are made and the 'bureaucracy' is restructured, but claimed in the end it would 'streamline HHS.' It appears one of the divisions that will bear the brunt of the cuts the hardest is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – with it set to lose 3,500 employees. The agency, with a budget of $7 billion, is charged with vaccine and medicine safety as well as the majority of the U.S. food supply and tobacco products.

He acknowledged that there might be a 'painful period' of transition while cuts are made and the 'bureaucracy' is restructured, but claimed in the end it would 'streamline HHS.' It appears one of the divisions that will bear the brunt of the cuts the hardest is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – with it set to lose 3,500 employees. The agency, with a budget of $7 billion, is charged with vaccine and medicine safety as well as the majority of the U.S. food supply and tobacco products.

A fact sheet insists that the FDA cuts will not 'affect drug, medical device, or food reviewers, nor will it impact inspectors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will also lose 2,400 staff in the next round of cuts. The release says the Atlanta-based division will be refocused on fighting epidemics.

A fact sheet insists that the FDA cuts will not 'affect drug, medical device, or food reviewers, nor will it impact inspectors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will also lose 2,400 staff in the next round of cuts. The release says the Atlanta-based division will be refocused on fighting epidemics.

CDC has a $9 billion budget and is in charge of making vaccine recommendations as well as working to prevent the proliferation of chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity. It also tracks opioid overdoses and fights infectious disease outbreaks – like the current nationwide spread of Measles. In the wake of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC bore the brunt of criticism over the compulsory implementation of vaccine mandates – even though it only had emergency use authority and was not fully FDA approved.

CDC has a $9 billion budget and is in charge of making vaccine recommendations as well as working to prevent the proliferation of chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity. It also tracks opioid overdoses and fights infectious disease outbreaks – like the current nationwide spread of Measles. In the wake of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC bore the brunt of criticism over the compulsory implementation of vaccine mandates – even though it only had emergency use authority and was not fully FDA approved.

Thousands of Americans – including those within the federal government – lost their jobs because they were required to get the vaccine and refused. HHS will cut only 300 employees from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the department says that no services will be impacted by the relatively small reduction in workforce. Approximately 66 million people are enrolled in Medicare, which is the health insurance program for people aged 65 and older. While 72 million are on Medicaid, which is the program that primarily serves low-income people and those with disabilities.

Thousands of Americans – including those within the federal government – lost their jobs because they were required to get the vaccine and refused. HHS will cut only 300 employees from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the department says that no services will be impacted by the relatively small reduction in workforce. Approximately 66 million people are enrolled in Medicare, which is the health insurance program for people aged 65 and older. While 72 million are on Medicaid, which is the program that primarily serves low-income people and those with disabilities.

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PoliticsRFK Jr.Donald Trump

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