E&C Democrats Demand Answers from Secretary Kennedy on HHS Cuts After Agency Briefing Provided Few

Today, top Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee followed-up on their April 1 letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and demanded more answers on the indiscriminate 25 percent staffing cut and the elimination of various critical support programs at the nation’s public health agency. This follow-up letter also comes after a one hour briefing last month by three HHS staff who claimed to be unaware of multiple statements made by the Secretary about his plans and otherwise provided no meaningful information. HHS announced a massive reduction in force (RIF) of 10,000 agency employees, which followed another 10,000 public servants who were already terminated or who had taken the deferred resignation offer.

The follow-up 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).

“Despite our numerous attempts to obtain information on employee terminations at the agencies under HHS, you have not provided Congress with a full accounting of the number of resignations, retirements, or layoffs that have been made as part of either the RIF or the termination of thousands of probationary employees in February,” the Democratic Committee leaders wrote.

The Democratic leaders expressed concern that Kennedy’s actions will result not only in the 25 percent staffing cut at HHS but also the near or complete elimination of entire programs. The programs impacted perform vital functions like providing health care to first responders and survivors of the 9/11 attacks, supporting independent living for seniors and individuals with disabilities, preventing HIV and sexually transmitted infections, food safety and lead prevention programing, and helping Americans in need afford their energy costs.

“In the absence of more information and given the fact that these terminations and program elimination decisions were carried out far from public view by unidentified officials, it is unclear whether HHS complied with all laws and regulations in implementing the RIF,” Pallone, DeGette, and Clarke continued in their letter to Kennedy. “We also do not believe the Department has the unilateral authority to make the proposed changes to the structure of HHS without the approval of Congress. The staff briefing on April 11 did not provide any information on the authorities that HHS believes allow it to dismantle its agencies so dramatically.”

The Democratic Committee leaders continued to press for public testimony by the Secretary before the Committee. “We continue to insist that you come before our Committee in a capacity to provide unrestricted and detailed testimony – beyond the annual budget hearing appearance – on HHS’s plans regarding the layoffs and future plans for the Department under your leadership. We are already seeing that staffing cuts of mission critical positions and proposed elimination of whole operating divisions have damaged our nation’s responsiveness to public health functions."

The Democratic Committee leaders again requested documents and answers to their questions in the letter dated April 1, 2025. In addition, they asked new questions and requested more information by June 10, 2025—including details about the involvement of Elon Musk’s DOGE in RIF plans, legal compliance with dismantling whole operating divisions within HHS, the impact of staff terminations on product safety evaluations at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the impact of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant terminations on patient care and clinical trials, and more.

Read the full letter HERE.

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