Admitting to cutting mistakes at the department, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to reinstate 20% of the workforce after massive layoffs.
The health chief acknowledged that some personnel essential to public health programs were wrongfully terminated in a DOGE-directed cost-cutting sweep that eliminated 10,000 jobs.
The Department of Health and Human Services is walking back some of its dramatic workforce reductions after discovering that several crucial public health programs cannot function properly with skeleton crews.
The course correction comes after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, pushed for significant staff reductions across federal agencies.
Kennedy, who initially championed the cuts as necessary reforms to bloated bureaucracy, now acknowledges that the reductions went too far in some areas.
He stated:
“Personnel that should not have been cut, were cut. We’re reinstating them. And that was always the plan. Part of the DOGE, we talked about this from the beginning, is we’re going to do 80% cuts, but 20% of those are going to have to be reinstated, because we’ll make mistakes.”
Among the most notable casualties was the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Lead Poisoning Prevention and Surveillance Branch, which monitors toxic lead levels in children across America.
This partial reversal highlights the challenges of government downsizing without compromising essential services.
While the administration remains committed to trimming excess from federal agencies, Kennedy’s correction demonstrates a willingness to adjust course when American health and safety are at stake.
The planned reinstatement affects roughly 2,000 positions out of the 10,000 jobs eliminated in the initial sweep.
Conservative budget hawks note that even with these adjustments, the department will still operate with a significantly leaner workforce than under the Biden administration.
While some programs like the lead poisoning division will resume operations, HHS clarified that this does not necessarily mean bringing back the same personnel.
Instead, the work may continue elsewhere within the department’s restructured organization, maintaining the overall goal of streamlining while preserving critical functions.
“We’re streamlining the agencies. We’re going to make it work for public health, make it work for the American people,” Kennedy declared.
The recent cuts have already affected some local health departments. Milwaukee’s health officials reported that their request for assistance with lead in water went unanswered due to the elimination of the CDC’s lead program.
Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration’s inspection capabilities have been compromised, and plans are in place to reduce routine inspections of food and drug facilities.
This balanced approach to government reform demonstrates the Trump administration’s commitment to both fiscal responsibility and essential public health protection.
Kennedy’s HHS is pursuing a targeted strategy that eliminates waste while preserving core functions.
The reinstatement process is expected to begin immediately, with priority given to programs directly impacting public health emergencies and child safety.
