HHS would furlough nearly 32,500 in shutdown
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Federal health agencies under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would furlough more than 40% of their remaining workforce in a government shutdown, according to a contingency plan.
Why it matters: Some 32,460 government health workers would be without work at least temporarily under the plan and could lose their jobs if Trump follows through on threats to fire those deemed nonessential in a funding lapse.
- The furloughs or firings would come on top of sweeping cuts that pushed out thousands of scientists and health workers earlier this year.
The big picture: The Department of Health and Human Services says a shutdown would hinder critical communication with the public and contractors and affect some basic agency functions.
- "[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] communication to the American public about health-related information will be hampered, [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] will be unable to provide oversight to major contractors, and [the National Institutes of Health] will not have the ability to admit new patients to the Clinical Center, except for whom it is medically necessary," the agency wrote in the contingency plan notice.
Zoom in: Furlough rates would vary significantly among HHS subagencies.
- 86% of Food and Drug Administration staffers would continue working if appropriations lapse.
- That includes 66% who are paid with industry user fees or other unaffected funding sources and 19% who are considered "excepted" because their work is deemed necessary for public safety.
- 53% of CMS staff would stay on during a shutdown, while 24.5% of NIH and 36% of CDC staff would keep working.
Between the lines: Staff cuts have already rippled through HHS this year following DOGE initiatives and Kennedy's agency reorganization.
- The contingency plan says HHS currently has 79,717 employees.
- HHS in April said the agency employed 82,000 people, and planned to cut that down to 62,000. Some of HHS's intended layoffs are currently paused pending court decisions.
What they're saying: "All of us have been prepared for the probability of being fired, for eight months now," said NIH employee Jenna Norton, speaking in a personal capacity. "We've made our peace with that risk."
What to watch: Lawmakers have until Wednesday to pass a government funding package before the government shuts down.
- At the center of the fight over funding is whether Congress should extend enhanced Affordable Care Act coverage subsidies.
Emily Peck contributed
