Health Secretary’s Restructuring Sparks Legal Challenge from States
In a bold move, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has significantly restructured the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), resulting in the elimination of over 10,000 jobs and consolidating 28 agencies into 15. This action, alongside previous layoffs during the Trump administration, reduced the HHS workforce by a staggering 25%.
A lawsuit filed by attorneys general from 20 states and the District of Columbia alleges that Kennedy’s actions violate constitutional laws and governmental statutes. The complaint states that the restructuring has left HHS devoid of essential resources needed for its operations, severely hampering its ability to address public health issues.
Critics, including Dr. Beth Cronin of Brown University, express grave concerns over the dismantling of divisions focused on reproductive health and other vital health services. She noted that such cuts disproportionately affect marginalized communities, increasing pregnancy-related fatalities among Indigenous and Black women. "We cannot cut funding to programs that work to identify these causes without disastrous long-term consequences,” Cronin remarked.
The cuts have also crippled essential programs, such as the National Asthma Control Program, leading to concerns over rising asthma cases among children. Daniel Fitzgerald from the American Lung Association highlighted that the cuts could exacerbate lung health issues and addiction rates among youth.
Additionally, the restructuring has reportedly adversely affected the World Trade Center Health Program, crucial for 9/11 responders and survivors, and has led to significant staff losses at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
As states rally against these layoffs, critics remain worried that these reductions, while aimed at budget savings, may jeopardize public health and safety across the nation.
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