The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)is set to lay off 10,000 workers and shut down entire agencies as part of a massive overhaul, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. Some of these agencies oversee billions of dollars in funds for addiction services and community health centers nationwide.
The nation’s top health department has recently been embroiled in rumors of mass firings, the revocation of $11 billion in public health funding for cities and counties, a lackluster response to a measles outbreak, and controversial remarks about vaccines from its new leader, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
HHS is responsible for monitoring infectious diseases, inspecting hospitals and food, and overseeing health insurance programs for almost half of the U.S. The department overall will downsize to 62,000 positions, losing almost 25% of its staff — 10,000 jobs through layoffs and another 10,000 workers who took early retirement and voluntary separation offers.
