A major upheaval is underway in the US healthcare system, as the Trump administration begins a massive restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—a move that will eliminate 10,000 jobs.

The layoffs, which started Tuesday, have rocked key federal health agencies, including:

• CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
• NIH (National Institutes of Health)

This drastic reform, spearheaded by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., aims to cut bureaucratic sprawl and shift focus toward chronic disease prevention. However, critics warn that it could cripple America’s epidemic response at a time when the country is battling a measles outbreak and facing bird flu concerns.

Many employees learned of their termination in brutal fashion—either through sudden email notifications or by discovering that their work badges had been deactivated when they arrived at the office.

According to US media reports, top officials—including Jeanne Marrazzo, the NIH branch chief who succeeded Dr. Anthony Fauci—have been offered remote positions in isolated areas like Alaska and Oklahoma.

Former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, who served under Obama and Biden, declared:

“The FDA as we’ve known it is finished. Most of the leaders with institutional knowledge and a deep understanding of product development and safety are no longer employed.”

What’s Behind the HHS Overhaul?

According to official statements, the restructuring will:

• Shrink HHS from 82,000 to 62,000 employees (saving $1.8 billion annually)
• Reduce HHS divisions from 28 to 15, consolidating agencies
• Establish a new department called the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA)

Kennedy justified the cuts, saying:

“We aren’t just reducing bureaucratic sprawl. We are realigning HHS with its core mission: reversing the chronic disease epidemic.”

However, his track record of vaccine skepticism has raised alarm bells within the medical community.

The timing of these cuts has drawn heavy criticism, as they come while the US is facing:

• Its worst measles outbreak in years – Two deaths and hundreds of cases (mostly unvaccinated individuals)
• Bird flu fears – Concerns over a potential human pandemic

Kennedy, a longtime critic of vaccines, has downplayed these threats, even suggesting that avian influenza should be allowed to spread freely among America’s poultry.

What’s Next for US Healthcare?

• Public Health Crisis Response: With fewer CDC and NIH personnel, experts warn that the ability to contain disease outbreaks will be significantly weakened.
• Vaccine Policy Shifts: Kennedy’s leadership raises concerns about vaccination policies, potentially affecting childhood immunization rates.
• Political Fallout: The move is expected to spark intense debate in Congress and among public health leaders.