Tuesday morning in Washington, D.C., was anything but ordinary for thousands of federal employees.
At the headquarters of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the atmosphere was somber as workers packed up their desks, embraced their colleagues, and processed the harsh reality—they had just lost their jobs.
Emails began rolling into inboxes across the agency, officially notifying employees of their dismissals.
This move, orchestrated by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is part of a sweeping workforce reduction that will eliminate 20,000 jobs from the department.
While half of these positions were voluntarily vacated through early retirements and buyout offers, the remaining 10,000 workers had no choice in the matter.
The Push for Government Downsizing
Kennedy’s plan follows a broader initiative inspired by President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) strategy, which aims to streamline federal agencies.
The cuts at HHS will shrink the agency’s workforce by nearly 25%, reducing it from 82,000 employees to 62,000.
The hardest-hit division is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is set to lose 3,500 employees.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is also seeing massive reductions, with 2,400 workers being let go.
Additionally, 1,200 jobs are being eliminated at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), while the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will see a 300-person reduction.
Despite the drastic measures, HHS has assured the public that no Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries will experience any disruptions to their services as a result of the job cuts.
Reshaping the Agency for a New Vision
This move is just one piece of Kennedy’s broader restructuring plan for HHS.
In a video posted to X last week, he announced plans to reduce the number of HHS divisions from 28 to 15 and to consolidate regional offices from 10 to five.
His goal? To make the department more efficient and accountable to taxpayers.
“We’re going to do more with less,” Kennedy stated. “No American is going to be left behind.”
A major part of his vision includes the creation of a new division, the Administration for a Healthy America, which will oversee services related to addiction treatment, community health centers, and environmental health concerns.
The restructuring is projected to save the government $1.8 billion annually.
Controversy Surrounding RFK Jr.’s Leadership
Kennedy, a longtime Democrat-turned-independent, has been a polarizing figure in the health sector due to his outspoken views on vaccines and alternative medicine.
After initially running as a candidate in the 2024 presidential race, he threw his support behind Trump and became a leading advocate for the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative.
His tenure at HHS has been marked by an ambitious effort to prioritize “safe, wholesome food, clean water, and the elimination of environmental toxins,” as outlined in the agency’s press release.
He has also emphasized the importance of giving Americans more control over their health choices, whether it be regarding vaccines or alternative treatments.
What Comes Next?
With thousands of workers suddenly unemployed and the department undergoing significant changes, the impact of these cuts remains to be seen.
Supporters argue that the restructuring will make HHS more efficient and cost-effective, while critics worry about the long-term effects on public health programs.
For the federal employees who found themselves out of work this week, the future is uncertain. As Washington adjusts to this major shift, one thing is clear—HHS will never look the same again.