A major restructuring announced Thursday at the Department of Health and Human Services will eliminate approximately 10,000 positions, leaving many employees learning about their potential job losses through unofficial channels rather than direct communication from leadership.
The sweeping changes, revealed in a morning press release titled “HHS Announces Transformation to Make America Healthy Again,” caught numerous department heads and staff members off guard. The
reorganization will consolidate 28 divisions into 15 and reduce regional offices by half.
Many employees first learned about the cuts through social media or industry news rather than official channels. One NIH employee discovered the news via Reddit, hours before receiving any formal notification. The situation highlights the communication challenges surrounding the massive downsizing effort.
The restructuring targets primarily administrative roles, including HR, IT, and procurement positions. FDA will lose approximately 3,500 employees (20% of its workforce), while CDC faces over 2,000 cuts and NIH will shed 1,200 positions. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. characterized the reductions as eliminating “bureaucratic sprawl” while realigning the department with his priority of addressing chronic diseases.
Despite HHS assertions that core functions like FDA drug reviews and Medicare administration will remain intact, industry experts and union representatives express skepticism. Doreen Greenwald, who leads the National Treasury Employees Union representing HHS workers, called claims about maintaining effectiveness “preposterous.” Former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf emphasized that administrative cuts can significantly impact product assessment due to the interconnected nature of the agency’s work.
The lack of detailed information about how cuts will be distributed across agencies has created anxiety among staff. Multiple department leaders were reportedly surprised by the announcement, having received no advance notice or input into the restructuring plans. A veteran HHS lawyer noted that even management was caught unprepared, while an FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health employee reported their director was seeking answers alongside other division heads.
Democratic lawmakers and former HHS officials have voiced strong opposition to the cuts. Former Secretary Xavier Becerra warned of a “manmade disaster” in social media comments. However, some industry representatives, like Advamed’s Scott Whitaker, expressed optimism that critical FDA functions would be preserved.
Employees now await formal notices about their positions, which could arrive as early as Friday. Staff have been instructed to prepare their personnel files for possible immediate departures. The uncertainty has created significant stress among workers, with one NIH employee comparing the daily anxiety to waiting for a cancer diagnosis.
The restructuring comes amid broader tensions at HHS following President Trump’s election victory in November. Acting FDA
Commissioner Sara Brenner attempted to reassure staff in an email, stating that while changes may be challenging, they would position the agency for future success.
The reorganization represents approximately a 25% reduction in HHS staff when accounting for layoffs, voluntary dismissals, buyouts, and early retirements. Even Secretary Kennedy acknowledged on social media that the agency faces a “painful period” ahead, though he maintains the changes are necessary to improve Americans’ health outcomes.
As of Friday morning, many employees across various HHS divisions were still waiting for additional details beyond the initial press release, leaving thousands of federal workers uncertain about their
professional futures.