Trump Initiates Mass Layoffs at Health Agencies
The Trump administration has commenced a large-scale round of layoffs at key U.S. health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This action is part of a broader effort to reduce government staffing.
The initiative, which aims to eliminate 10,000 federal health positions, has raised concerns about the country’s capacity to effectively manage the public health sector, according to Reuters.
These job cuts also affect the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and align with President Donald Trump’s commitment to streamline federal departments. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports the downsizing, describing it as a necessary step to reduce bureaucratic inefficiency.
However, these layoffs have led to an exodus of top scientists and health officials who are crucial to overseeing public health initiatives, drug approval processes, and emergency preparedness.
Among those resigning is Peter Stein, the director of the FDA’s Office of New Drugs, who stepped down after learning of his termination. Brian King, head of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, was also reportedly fired, as indicated in an email he sent to staff.
The cuts have affected critical divisions at the FDA, including those responsible for drugs, food, vaccines, medical devices, and tobacco products. Employees at the agency report difficulties in meeting review deadlines due to shrinking personnel.
An FDA source described chaotic scenes at the agency’s headquarters, where employees were required to present identification badges upon entry. Those dismissed were handed a ticket and instructed to return home.
A document reviewed by Reuters provided phone numbers for terminated employees to retrieve “essential” equipment. Some employees received email notifications early Tuesday morning stating that their terminations were not related to their performance or conduct.
On the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, traffic congestion was noted as employees were informed of their layoffs upon arrival.
The CDC was also significantly affected, with staff members from the National Center for Environmental Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases being among those laid off. At least one employee working on the federal response to measles outbreaks was among those dismissed.
A health official confirmed that employees working directly for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were also included in the layoffs, although representatives from HHS were not immediately available for comment.
These widespread firings have elicited concerns from health experts, who warn that the loss of experienced personnel could undermine the U.S. health sector’s ability to respond to public health emergencies and manage essential research and regulatory processes.
