U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Faces Turbulent Restructuring
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is currently undergoing a major restructuring, resulting in confusion and uncertainty among thousands of employees. The sweeping changes have left many unsure of their employment status, with some finding their positions eliminated only to be temporarily reinstated later.
Beginning earlier this week, a wave of layoffs hit HHS employees, with many discovering their termination only when their security badges failed to provide access to their offices. The lack of clear communication has exacerbated the situation, as human resources teams have been significantly reduced, making it difficult for affected workers to receive answers.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged the tumultuous process, admitting that approximately 20% of the layoffs were “mistakes.” Speaking to reporters, Kennedy stated, “We’re reinstating them. And that was always the plan,” emphasizing that the original strategy involved reinstating some positions due to potential errors.
Among the “mistakes” was the dismissal of a CDC division responsible for aiding public health departments with lead contamination issues. This division had been on the brink of commencing a significant testing initiative in Milwaukee’s school system when the layoff notifications were sent out.
Despite Kennedy’s assurance that the lead surveillance program would be reinstated, employees within that division reported no communication about resuming their work or reinstating their jobs. HHS maintains that the restructuring aims to “realign HHS with its core mission: to stop the chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again,” and has resulted in cutting roughly 10,000 employees, focusing on eliminating “redundant or unnecessary administrative positions.”
Uncertainty and Mixed Messages
At the National Institutes of Health (NIH), staff members faced a similar predicament. Six employees from the public records office were laid off, only to be instructed to return to work shortly after. An email obtained by NPR directed them to resume their duties, though their Reduction in Force (RIF) notices remained in effect.
The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) travel coordination staff experienced comparable circumstances, with jobs eliminated but employees summoned back to work temporarily. In another instance, 29 out of 82 employees cut from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke were invited back to work, highlighting the inconsistency of the restructuring process.
Confusion Reigns
One HHS employee, believing she had escaped the layoffs, continued to work normally until an email instructed her to leave the building. Days later, her work email access was revoked, yet she had not received any formal termination notice. Similar confusion was reported at the CDC, where managers were unsure of which staff members remained employed.
Vanessa Michener, a health communication specialist at the CDC affected by the layoffs, expressed her disbelief at the chaotic nature of the process. “Haphazardly doesn’t even begin to describe it,” she stated, criticizing the lack of employee involvement in decision-making.
Seeking Clarity Amidst Uncertainty
The government has not provided detailed information on the positions and functions eliminated, prompting employees to crowdsource lists of those affected. The picture emerging from these efforts is grim, with entire divisions at the CDC and other agencies heavily impacted. Despite the challenges, staff members are also sharing advice on handling the situation, including reminders of their rights and access to support resources.
In response to the upheaval, HHS announced a 35% cut in all contract spending, adding to the challenges faced by remaining staff. One CDC staffer noted the difficulty in managing these changes, stating, “It will take weeks at a minimum but likely one to two months to get in a place where we are functioning somewhat OK again.”
Concerns for the Future
The restructuring has sparked widespread concern regarding the future of health communications and research. Chanapa Tantibanchachai, part of the FDA’s press team until the layoffs, questioned how “radical transparency” can be achieved without communicators to convey that transparency.
At the NIH, where support roles have been severely cut, concerns are mounting about the long-term impact on scientific research and training. An NIH official expressed fears that these cuts could set back progress in key areas, warning that it “is going to take us more than a generation to recover.”
