HHS workers hit by Trump administration layoffs

The Trump administration is laying off additional federal health care workers during the government shutdown, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to Axios.

Why it matters: The cuts come after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has already pushed out thousands of scientists and health workers earlier this year.

• President Trump and Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, previously threatened mass federal worker layoffs during the shutdown.

What they're saying: "HHS employees across multiple divisions have received reduction-in-force notices as a direct consequence of the Democrat-led government shutdown," a spokesperson confirmed to Axios.

• HHS did not immediately confirm how many staffers have received layoff notices or which offices were affected.

Zoom in: A contingency plan released last month said nearly 32,500 HHS employees, or more than 40% of the workforce, would be considered non-essential and would be furloughed in the event of a government shutdown.

• "All HHS employees receiving reduction-in-force notices were designated non-essential by their respective divisions. HHS continues to close wasteful and duplicative entities, including those that are at odds with the Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again agenda," HHS said in a statement Friday.