HHS Slashes Workforce as Trump Administration Advances Federal Downsizing

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services at the White House, Thursday, February 13, 2025.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) laid off approximately 20,500 employees—about a quarter of its 82,000-strong workforce—yesterday, marking a significant step in the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to reduce the federal government’s 2.4 million employees. The cuts are part of a broader reduction in force that has seen an estimated 55,000 federal workers dismissed this year, with an additional 75,000 opting for voluntary buyouts. Officials anticipate hundreds of thousands more reductions in the coming months, according to workforce projections.

Within HHS, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bore the brunt of the layoffs, losing 3,500 employees, or roughly 19% of its staff. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) followed with 2,400 dismissals, while the National Institutes of Health (NIH) saw 1,200 workers let go. The reductions, which also included reassignments, are projected to trim $1.8 billion from HHS’s $1.8 trillion budget. Among those affected were dozens of senior health officials, including Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, an infectious disease expert who succeeded Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation has taken a different tack, offering buyouts to thousands of its employees. The packages include pay and benefits through September 30, providing an alternative to outright layoffs as the administration continues its workforce overhaul.

The moves reflect a concerted push to streamline federal operations, with significant implications for agency functions and staffing levels in the months ahead.