In late March 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a sweeping reorganization of the department, eliminating roughly 10,000 positions and consolidating 28 sub-agencies into 15. Branded the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, the restructuring aimed to streamline operations and reduce federal bureaucracy.

By July, the department had finalized a portion of those cuts amid growing legal scrutiny.  On July 1, a federal judge halted further terminations, issuing a preliminary injunction that labeled the layoffs “likely unlawful.” Legal experts and employee unions argue the changes violated federal hiring protections and risk destabilizing crucial public health services.

Scope of the Layoffs

The scale of the job cuts is massive. According to CNN, the reorganization reduced the HHS workforce from 82,000 to roughly 62,000. Around 10,000 of those positions were cut outright, while another 10,000 employees left voluntarily amid internal uncertainty.

Furthermore, there are about 5,200 probationary workers who have been in their positions for less than a year or two and were terminated in June. Most have been placed on paid temporary administrative leave while their futures are decided in federal court. 

The cuts heavily impacted public health divisions, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which repeatedly rescinded layoffs affecting hundreds of employees, including in branches that monitor HIV, hepatitis, and other diseases: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Many employees reported system lockouts and sudden termination notices.

Legal Pushback

On July 1, U.S. District Court Judge Melissa DuBose granted a preliminary injunction sought by a coalition of attorneys general from 19 states and the District of Columbia in a lawsuit filed in early May. These legal backers argued the restructuring violated statutory requirements for fair process and congressional oversight.

She emphasized that employees were suffering "irreparable harm," and ruled that the cuts appeared “arbitrary and capricious” because they bypassed federal civil service protections. DuBose also stated the executive branch lacked the authority to unilaterally dismantle agencies created by Congress.

Legal Context & Court Developments

  • Initial injunction: Issued on July 1, it immediately blocked any additional layoffs.
  • Supreme Court impact: A separate Supreme Court decision earlier in July lifted lower court blocks on similar actions, allowing federal agencies—including HHS—to proceed with mass layoffs pending ongoing litigation. HHS formally commenced cuts again shortly after.
  • Court ruling: On July 14, a federal court ruled in favor of HHS, allowing the department to move forward with the restructuring and layoffs despite ongoing legal challenges..

Justifying the Cuts

Kennedy defended the downsizing, characterizing it as a necessary step to streamline costly agencies and reduce redundancies at HHS. He cited plans to eliminate "inefficient and wasteful bureaucracy," and to save an estimated $1.8 billion annually. He told AP News the agency needed to "do more with less" and restore mission focus.

He also stated, “There’s so much chaos and disorganization in this department” during the May 14th hearing.

Public Health Fallout

Many experts worry the layoffs have real-world health consequences. ABC News reports that reductions at the CDC threaten current disease surveillance, while the FDA’s ability to inspect and regulate food and drugs has also been weakened.

Milwaukee’s health commissioner, Mike Totoraitis, said his team had been depending on CDC experts for support in investigating lead exposure and assisting affected families, only to find out that the entire CDC team they were collaborating with had just been laid off.

Internal memos, reviewed by CNN, show slowed response times for vaccine distribution grants and reduced lab staffing, raising concerns over preparedness for future health crises.

The Road Ahead

In the wake of ongoing restructuring, the Department of Health and Human Services is proceeding with a controversial reorganization plan that has triggered legal challenges and public concern. Following a Supreme Court ruling, HHS finalized a portion of its employee layoffs, part of a broader initiative to consolidate operations and reduce its workforce. While the legal battles continue for some employees, the long-term effects on public health services, staff capacity, and agency trust remain uncertain. The department now faces the critical task of implementing reform without compromising its core mission.