Mass Layoffs Underway At US Public Health Agencies

Workers across the massive US Health and Human Services Department reportedly received notices on Tuesday that their jobs were being eliminated. According to Associated Press report, the cuts include researchers, scientists, doctors, support staff and senior leaders.

A recent announcement made by Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr revealed that 10,000 workers would be laid off, and through voluntary departures, the workforce would be reduced from 80,000 to 60,000. The US administration had revealed plans for workforce reductions last week, targeting 3,500 full-time positions at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and 2,400 workers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Meanwhile, Associated Press also reported that some employees began getting termination notices in their work inboxes at 5 am (local time), while other staffers found out their jobs had been eliminated after standing in long lines outside offices. Former FDA leaders reportedly took to social media to voice their concerns about the cuts. "The FDA as we've known it is finished," Dr Robert Califf, who served as FDA commissioner twice, wrote on LinkedIn.