Health and Human Services to cut 20,000 employees in restructuring plan

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says will allow them to do more while saving taxpayers’ money.

Tariffs are not the only topic on the Hill this week. The Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) will soon lay off thousands of workers under DOGE-led restructuring efforts. A move, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a press release, would allow the department to do more while saving taxpayers’ money.

Health and Human Services covers agencies like the FDA and CDC. Kennedy says he is releasing 20,000 workers from the Agency, 3,500 of whom will be from the FDA. Kennedy says the FDA will streamline operations while centralizing administrative functions.

The restructuring will cut the Department’s 28 divisions to 15 and could save just under $2 billion a year.

Related Stories
Todd Janzen with Janzen Schroeder Ag Law explains the updated ag data use agreement model and what it means for farmers and companies alike.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar has four years remaining in her Senate term and could decide to continue serving in that role while campaigning for Governor of Minnesota.
Beef x Dairy cattle with strong genetics and documentation are earning prices comparable to native feeders.
Reliable waterways lower costs, protect export demand, and support long-term farm profitability.
STRAUSS CEO Henning Strauss joined us with a preview of “Meet Strauss: The Tool You Wear,” premiering live tonight at 7:30 ET — only on RFD Network and RFD+
Mike Steenhoek of the Soy Transportation Coalition shares how extreme winter weather is affecting the ag transportation network and what producers should keep in mind as conditions slowly improve.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

CLAAS Senior Vice President for the Americas Region Eric Raby joined us to preview the new docuseries “CLAAS: Made for More,” premiering tonight at 9 PM ET only on RFD-TV.
Dairy farmer and Discover Ag co-host Tara Vander Dussen joined us to discuss the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, her experience at the signing, and what’s next for her family and farm.
The Farm Bureau is making an urgent call to Congress for more farm support. Colton Lacina with Farmers National Company joined us to discuss farmland values and how market dynamics for the year ahead reflect stabilization rather than collapse.
Analysts say a Supreme Court decision on tariffs could reshape protein markets, strain U.S.-China trade, and force farmers to rethink global demand strategies.
Wayne Cockrell with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association joined us to discuss preparedness, producer awareness, and the industry’s response to New World screwworm concerns.
President Donald Trump speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, addressing SNAP spending, tariff threats against Europe, market reactions, and the upcoming USMCA review.