HHS to Cut 10,000 Jobs in Major Workforce Reduction as Part of Trump Administration’s Federal Restructuring Plan

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 10,000 full-time employees, as part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to restructure various federal government departments. This reduction represents about one-tenth of the staff at the nation’s federal health agencies. The move is part of the White House’s “reduction in force” strategy, which aims to streamline operations and reduce costs across multiple government sectors.

The planned cuts are expected to impact several agencies within HHS, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This restructuring effort could lead to the closure or downsizing of multiple departments, raising concerns about the potential effects on public health initiatives. The department’s statement indicated that the overall workforce would decrease from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees, with an estimated savings of $1.8 billion for taxpayers.

HHS has identified 28 divisions within the health department that contain “redundant units.” The restructuring plan will consolidate these into 15 divisions, aiming to improve efficiency and eliminate overlap. The department’s release also mentioned other efforts, such as early retirement programs and the “Fork in the Road” initiative, as part of the overall downsizing strategy.

According to a fact sheet circulated among senior health officials, no further cuts are anticipated beyond those already announced. The document suggests that the current measures are sufficient to achieve the administration’s goals of reducing costs and improving the effectiveness of federal health agencies.