Drastic Layoffs and Turmoil at the Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced significant layoffs, impacting thousands of staffers and resulting in the complete shutdown of certain offices and programs.

Early Tuesday morning, HHS began distributing reduction-in-force (RIF) notifications at around 5 a.m. Eastern time, according to reports from several employees who communicated with Federal News Network.

Numerous HHS staff members shared images of co-workers queued up, awaiting entry into their offices. Those impacted by the RIF discovered that their Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards had been deactivated.

“Finding out you’re RIF’d involves enduring a lengthy process just to enter the building, go through security, and attempt to badge-in at the main atrium. If the badge fails, you’re then publicly escorted to collect your belongings. It’s an incredibly humiliating and degrading process,” lamented an employee.

A worker from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mentioned that additional security protocols, such as wanding individuals before building entry, have been implemented.

HHS previously shared its intentions to non-voluntarily shed 10,000 jobs, with the department further aiming to cut another 10,000 employees via early retirement or buyout offers, ultimately targeting a reduction to 62,000 staff members.

“Entire divisions are being completely RIF’d,” one HHS worker reported. “The initial ‘Fork in the Road’ communication promised dignified treatment for those affected in the future. Today’s events are the utter opposite of that promise.”

The National Treasury Employees Union informed its members that the RIF would mostly affect support roles such as human resources, IT, procurement, and finance.

An FDA employee, however, indicated that science and policy-centered roles are also facing eliminations.

“With whole offices of support staff removed, we’re encountering immediate difficulties. One lab in my office shuttered today because we ran out of necessary supplies due to halted procurement. The folks who would resolve this have been let go,” the FDA employee explained.

The void left in the EEO department was particularly stark, as FDA employees were instructed to forward employment discrimination complaints to LaKeisha McClendon, who had departed weeks before. She now serves as the Office of Human Rights and Equity Administrator in Howard County, Maryland.

“There’s no personnel in EEO, leaving no one to approach at the FDA,” commented a second FDA staff member.

With no EEO staff present, FDA employees now must bring their issues directly to the acting FDA commissioner.

At the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, employees who received RIF notices were told to send EEO grievances to Anita Pinder, the director who passed away in November 2024.

“It’s traumatic for staff when they’re told to reference a deceased director,” noted someone who attended Pinder’s funeral.

In the face of these challenges, Brian King, head of the Center for Tobacco Products, informed his team via email of his administrative leave status after nearly three years in the role.

“Together, we’ve achieved groundbreaking results,” King wrote, highlighting their role in reducing adult smoking to historic lows and drastically cutting youth tobacco usage.

“As the center moves forward, undoubtedly facing uncertainties and hurdles, remember to stay true to CTP’s core values. We adhered to the law, followed scientific evidence, and spoke the truth,” King emphasized.

Matthew Farrelly, the Office of Science Director, and Deputy Director Todd Cecil have also been put on administrative leave, according to further communication seen by Federal News Network.

Employees within the Office of Science and Data Policy and the Office of Policy and Program Support have all received RIF notifications.

“Regardless of role, seniority, or performance, everyone at DOGE was RIF’d. This is painful as it was promised that ASPE would be spared if we met staffing reduction targets via VERA, VSIP, and other means. We exceeded those targets,” an HHS worker stated.

Other branches under the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) are undergoing partial RIFs, including offices focusing on Human Services, Health Policy, and Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy.

Additionally, numerous roles have been cut at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which hadn’t been mentioned in prior announcements from HHS.

“HRSA’s remit covers a budget similar to the CDC’s and manages vital programs including community health center funds, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, organ donation systems, the National Health Service Corps, and initiatives for Maternal and Child Health,” said a former HRSA employee in correspondence with Federal News Network.

Affected staff at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health were told to continue working remotely until further instructions regarding their transitions are available.

“Affected employees receive two communications—one indicating their RIF status and another advising patience pending additional directives,” an HHS worker explained.

The employee expressing concerns over these cuts had accepted the department’s Voluntary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment offers.

“Decisions in recent months run counter to everything known about cultivating an engaged, effective workforce,” the employee criticized. “Through the Department of Government Ethics (DOGE), they’re letting go of top performers in a way that sows doubt among remaining staff about staying in their roles.”

Keith Van Houten, whose child’s muscular dystrophy diagnosis subsequently relied on HHS-led research, voiced concerns about stalled progress: “With no approved FDA treatment at the time and crucial NIH research pushing development, we fear losing great strides made in drug approvals over these years,” Van Houten expressed.

Such pivotal NIH ground-breaking efforts in genetically targeted drugs are essential, as larger pharmaceutical firms often shy away from this research.

Across the globe, muscular dystrophy strikes approximately one in every 5,000 children, posing a major genetic health issue.