Major Restructuring at HHS: FDA and NIH Face Significant Job Cuts

In a sweeping move to streamline operations and reduce costs, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced substantial workforce reductions and organizational changes across multiple agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

HHS Workforce Reduction and Reorganization

The federal government is implementing a major restructuring of the HHS, which will result in the elimination of 10,000 jobs across the department. This includes cutting 3,500 full-time FDA employees and 1,200 NIH workers. The layoffs are expected to save the agency $1.8 billion annually, according to an HHS press release.

As part of the reorganization, HHS will consolidate its current 28 divisions into 15 and reduce its 10 regional offices to five. The department's overall workforce is projected to decrease from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time staffers.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated on social media that the administration "will eliminate an entire alphabet soup of departments, while preserving their core functions by merging them into a new organization called the Administration for a Healthy America or AHA."

Impact on FDA and NIH Operations

The FDA has assured that the workforce reduction "will not affect drug, medical device or food reviewers, nor will it impact inspectors." Instead, the agency will focus on streamlining operations and centralizing administrative functions.

At the NIH, the workforce reduction will be achieved by centralizing procurement, human resources, and communications across its 27 institutes. The reorganization aims to maintain essential functions while reducing administrative overlap.

Additional Agency Changes and Priorities

The restructuring extends beyond the FDA and NIH, with 2,400 workers being cut from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including 1,000 from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR). The ASPR will be moved under the CDC umbrella as part of the reorganization.

HHS has stated that it will prioritize "ending America's epidemic of chronic illness by focusing on safe, wholesome food, clean water, and the elimination of environmental toxins."

These changes align with President Donald Trump's executive order, "Implementing the President's 'Department of Government Efficiency' Workforce Optimization Initiative." The administration has indicated that while no additional cuts are currently planned, the department will continue to explore ways to streamline its operations and agencies.