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Physician groups sound alarm over HHS staffing cuts
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Leading medical organizations warn that workforce reductions could disrupt public health and patient care.
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Leading physician organizations are voicing strong opposition to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) decision to cut approximately 10,000 full-time positions, warning that the move could undermine patient care, disrupt public health initiatives, and exacerbate existing challenges within the nation’s health care infrastructure.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and American College of Physicians (ACP) released a joint statement expressing “alarm and concern” over the workforce reductions. These cuts, along with previous reductions, have shrunk HHS staffing by more than 20%
“Our members see the critical work done by HHS employees each day and we are therefore alarmed and concerned by the sweeping cuts announced this week to HHS staff, its regional offices and internal agencies,” the statement read. “Laying off over 20% of the HHS workforce will not make America healthier, but it will threaten our members’ ability to care for their patients at a time when we need to be strengthening the physician workforce and our national healthcare infrastructure as we confront a growing measles outbreak.”
The cuts come as part of a broad restructuring effort announced Thursday. Led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the moves aim to streamline operations, consolidate 28 divisions into 15, and redirect the department’s focus toward chronic disease prevention.
The department projects annual savings of $1.8 billion as a result of the reorganization.
In addition to the staff reductions, physician groups have raised concerns over the recent cancellation of billions of dollars in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants to state and local public health departments. The joint statement noted that their members are already seeing the effects of these funding cuts in communities across the country.
“Prioritizing efficiency and implementing their priorities is an important goal for any new administration, and we support thoughtful evaluation of how to streamline programs and staff without compromising essential services and research,” the groups said. “We are concerned that this decision will not accomplish that goal. Instead, the recent firings of thousands of staff at HHS will most certainly make it even harder for the agency to do its job.”
The restructuring includes the consolidation of several agencies into a new entity, the Administration for Healthy America (AHA), and shifting oversight of emergency preparedness to the CDC. While the HHS argues that the overhaul will improve efficiency and align the agency with its core mission, physician groups warn that such drastic measures, if not carefully executed, could erode critical health services and research efforts.
The organizations are calling on HHS to reconsider the reductions and collaborate with Congress and other stakeholders to ensure that essential health programs remain fully operational.
“We urge HHS to pause these drastic reductions and work with Congress and other stakeholders to thoughtfully plan how to support the HHS mission to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans.”
Physicians and health care leaders across the country will be watching closely to see how these changes impact their ability to provide patients with necessary care.
The full statement can be found here.
