HHS Reinstates Hundreds of Employees Following Mass Layoffs

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has begun reinstating hundreds of employees following controversial mass layoffs earlier this year, according to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The reinstatements come amid ongoing legal challenges and concerns about the department's ability to manage crucial health programs.

CDC and NIH See Significant Rehiring

During a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee meeting on Tuesday, Secretary Kennedy revealed that 722 workers have been reinstated at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 220 employees at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Additionally, more than 300 people have returned to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), including staff for a program that provides care for first responders and survivors of the 9/11 attacks.

"In some cases there have been gaps in our ability to perform our duties," Kennedy told lawmakers. "They were doing important work that was critical."

Controversy Surrounding Layoffs and Restructuring

The reinstatements follow a sweeping reorganization of the department earlier this year, which resulted in thousands of layoffs. HHS staffers described the process as chaotic, plagued by mistakes and poor communication. Several lawsuits have been filed against the Trump administration's restructuring efforts, arguing that the layoffs were conducted illegally and hindered the department's ability to manage crucial health programs.

Secretary Kennedy defended the cuts, stating that terminated staffers were mainly involved in administrative work. "The people who were let go were people who were not involved in primary care or in delivery of care," he said. "They were redundant administrative offices that have been added to over the past eight years."

Current Status and Future Uncertainties

A court order issued this spring has put job cuts at most federal agencies on hold. Affected employees are currently on administrative leave, and the department will make decisions on next steps if the injunction is lifted, according to Kennedy.

The hearing, which was initially scheduled to discuss the HHS budget for 2026, covered a range of additional topics, including cuts to NIH research grants and the firing of 17 members on a CDC panel on vaccine recommendations. As the department continues to navigate these challenges, the full impact of the restructuring efforts on crucial health programs remains to be seen.