The recent restructuring at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has generated chaos and confusion among its workforce. Thousands of employees have been affected, with some terminated employees temporarily reinstated. Managers are experiencing uncertainty regarding their staff, and the depletion of human resources teams has made finding answers challenging. This information has been gathered from interviews with over a dozen staff members, many of whom remain unnamed due to fears of retaliation.
The layoffs commenced early this week, with some employees discovering their termination when their security badges ceased functioning upon building entry attempts. The situation became more chaotic as the week progressed. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged on Thursday that about 20% of the dismissals were erroneous, stating, “We’re reinstating them. And that was always the plan.” Some fired divisions, such as one at the CDC that was working on water lead contamination, are among the mistakenly impacted areas, according to Kennedy.
By Friday afternoon, despite Kennedy’s assurance that the lead surveillance program had been reinstated, the affected division’s personnel remained uninformed about any plans to resume their work. HHS issued a statement indicating that the restructuring aims to align with its core mission of addressing chronic disease, with approximately 10,000 employees laid off focusing on reducing redundant or unnecessary administrative positions.
Instances of job terminations and subsequent reinstatements continue to unfold across various organizations. For example, at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), six workers originally set to be let go within 60 days have been asked to return temporarily, though their eventual departure is still anticipated. Similarly, at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), travel coordination staff were laid off and later recalled to work, yet their positions are due to end in June. Specific cases of fully rescinded layoffs have also emerged, such as the reinstatement of 29 workers from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, including senior scientists.
Confusion persists, as evidenced by the story of an HHS worker from a regional office who believed she avoided the layoffs until she received an email instructing her to leave the building. Days later, her work email access was revoked without formal notification of termination. Other units, like the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, face significant operational challenges due to staffing reductions.
Health communication specialist Vanessa Michener from the CDC, whose role in HIV outreach is being axed, expressed her disbelief over the disorderly execution of the layoffs. She described them as “haphazard” and criticized the lack of involvement and transparency in decision-making.
The absence of clear communication about cut positions and functions led some affected employees to crowdsource data and advice regarding their rights and potential support. HHS workers, in the absence of HR support, shared documents advising against premature resignations and highlighting severance and unemployment benefits.
Additionally, on Thursday, HHS mandated a 35% reduction in all contract spending, which further complicates the responsibilities of existing staff. This directive will significantly impact the ability of remaining personnel to function effectively amidst the layoffs.
Fear and uncertainty about the future prevail among employees, such as Chanapa Tantibanchachai, who was part of the FDA’s press team laid off this week. The layoffs contradict Kennedy’s promise of “radical transparency,” leaving journalists and the public concerned about the future. Meanwhile, at NIH, where numerous support roles have been cut, an official expressed concern over the long-term impact on scientific research and training, fearing that recovery would take generations.
