E&C Democrats Demand Answers on Devastating HHS Job Cuts
“To claim to want to make ‘America Healthy Again’ and then dismiss 25 percent of the people who work at HHS without regard to the impact these cuts will have on the American people is pure hypocrisy.”
Energy and Commerce Committee Democratic leaders wrote to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. today expressing outrage and demanding answers on the reckless decision to eliminate 25 percent of the agency’s workforce.
The letter was signed by Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Yvette Clarke (D-NY).
“This is no time to carelessly eviscerate our health workforce,” the Democratic Committee Leaders wrote. “There is an ongoing risk of avian flu outbreaks and more cases of measles already this year than in the past five years. Americans deserve the benefit of numerous treatments and cures that are being diligently researched and examined through clinical trials at NIH and elsewhere within HHS. They also deserve access to safe and effective medical products that are reviewed by FDA within the congressionally mandated timelines.”
The Democrats continued, “It is unacceptable that you refused to provide a briefing to the Committee or answer any questions regarding this proposed reorganization and layoffs – after all, Congress must approve many of the decisions that you proposed. It is simply unclear what authority allows you to make these sweeping changes without congressional approval, and you have not provided that information.”
The Democratic Committee leaders requested documents and answers to a series of questions by April 15, 2025, including:
- Provide a detailed list of the roles being eliminated across HHS;
- Describe in detail the process by which you determined what roles would be eliminated and produce all supporting documentation;
- Specify what is meant by the elimination of 3,500 roles at FDA not affecting reviewers or impacting reviewers;
- Specify which five regional offices will be closed and the process for determining why regional offices should be closed and which ones should be closed; and
- Specify which operating divisions will be eliminated or consolidated. For each, specify which new or existing operating division(s) will be responsible for carrying out the eliminated or consolidated operation division’s work.
Read the full letter HERE.
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