Trump's administration begins mass layoffs at the FDA, CDC, and NIH, affecting 10,000 employees to reduce government spending. The cuts, including top officials and health experts, raise concerns about the future of public health response, particularly amidst ongoing health crises like measles and bird flu.
In a sweeping move, former President Donald Trump has begun mass layoffs affecting 10,000 employees at key U.S. health agencies, including the FDA, CDC, and NIH. The cuts, announced on April 1, 2025, are part of a broader plan to reduce government spending and streamline the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Among those affected were prominent officials like Peter Stein, the FDA's head of the Office of New Drugs, and Brian King, the FDA’s tobacco division leader. The FDA's Center for Tobacco Products also saw major cuts. Former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf expressed concerns over the agency’s future, noting, “The FDA as we’ve known it is finished.” These cuts are seen as particularly concerning amid ongoing public health threats such as measles and bird flu outbreaks.
Employees at the FDA and CDC were shocked when security guards barred them from entering their offices, handing out termination notices. One source described seeing “dozens of people” being dismissed at the FDA’s Mary Switzer Building. At least one employee was informed of their job loss via text, highlighting the impersonal nature of the process.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended the layoffs, calling them essential to streamlining the bloated bureaucracy at HHS. “What we’ve been doing isn’t working,” Kennedy said, adding that the cuts were necessary for focusing on chronic disease prevention. Critics, however, worry that losing top scientists and leaders could undermine the country’s ability to handle future health crises.
The layoffs come on the first day for newly appointed FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, adding further uncertainty to the future of U.S. health agencies.
