Kennedy wields the chainsaw in the Department of Health and will lay off 10,000 employees.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Thursday that it will cut 10,000 full-time employees across various agencies within the department, which will reduce its workforce from approximately 82,000 to 62,000 employees.

These layoffs add to the 10,000 employees who have already voluntarily left their positions. 

The staff reduction is part of a broader restructuring that aims to consolidate the department's internal structure. HHS will reduce its divisions from 28 to 15, establishing a new Administration for a Healthy America.

Additionally, regional offices will be reduced from 10 to 5. According to the department, these changes will save USD 1.8 billion annually in operating costs.

HHS's new focus will be on eradicating the "epidemic of chronic diseases in America", prioritizing the promotion of safe and healthy foods, access to clean water, and the elimination of environmental toxins.

In this context, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. explained that the restructuring not only seeks to reduce bureaucracy but also to align the organization with its main mission: addressing chronic diseases more effectively and at a lower cost to taxpayers.

Despite the cuts, HHS assured that essential services such as Medicare, Medicaid, and other essential health services will not be affected. The layoffs will primarily impact administrative areas, including human resources, information technology, procurement, and finance, as well as redundant or duplicated roles within HHS or the federal government in general.

The staff cuts will include 3,500 employees at the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), although drug reviewers, medical device reviewers, and food inspectors will not be affected.

Additionally, 2,400 positions will be reduced at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,200 employees at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) due to the centralization of procurement, human resources, and communications, and 300 employees at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Among the main reforms, a new Administration for a Healthy America will be created, which will combine several agencies, including the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

This new administration will focus on key areas such as primary care, maternal and child health, mental health, environmental health, HIV/AIDS, and workforce development.

A new position of Assistant Secretary for Execution will also be established, overseeing the Office for Civil Rights, the Office of Medicare Hearings, and the Departmental Appeals Board.

Additionally, a new Office of Strategy will be created, combining the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, aiming to improve the secretary's policies and the effectiveness of federal health programs.

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, responsible for managing responses to public health emergencies and disasters, will be moved to the CDC, with around 1,000 employees joining this agency as part of the changes.

Meanwhile, the Administration for Community Living, which supports older adults and people with disabilities, will be integrated into other HHS agencies.

On Thursday, HHS sent a formal reduction in force (RIF) noticeto union leaders of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

According to this notice, between 8,000 and 10,000 employees will be affected by the layoffs, with a probable effective date of May 27. Specific notices to employees could be sent starting Friday.

The union was invited to negotiate on the impact and implementation of the layoffs, although it has not yet been determined when these negotiations will begin.