What Is Lost? Federal HHS Layoffs

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

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When budgets are slashed, it’s easy to overlook what disappears until it’s too late. But this week’s sweeping layoffs across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—meant to save a mere 0.1% of its overall budget—are anything but trivial. These cuts represent the unraveling of the very fabric that protects Americans from everyday health threats. From safeguarding newborns to managing pandemic supplies, ensuring prescription safety to preventing workplace injuries, entire public health programs were wiped out in one fell swoop.

Alexander Sundermann, DrPH, CIC, FAPIC, an infectious disease researcher and a member of the Infection Control Today^® Editorial Advisory Board, has laid out in sobering detail just how deeply these decisions will affect communities—particularly the most vulnerable.

These are not abstract policy changes—they’re personal, measurable losses in safety, services, and lives. Infection prevention personnel, already strained by understaffing and rising demands, now face a gutted infrastructure and disappearing federal support. The downstream effects will cascade into hospitals, nursing homes, dental clinics, community centers, and beyond.

These aren't bureaucratic trims. They are targeted dismantling of systems designed to keep people safe—systems built over decades. The damage is real, and the consequences will be felt across generations if swift action is not taken to reverse course.

(This was first published on LinkedIn and posted here with permission.)

Here’s how this week’s federal HHS layoffs—𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝟬.𝟭% 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁—affect everyone. These are aggregated from various news articles I doom-scrolled on April 1, 2025:

▶️Are you a 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁?
CDC’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) was eliminated. This team collected data from states to understand pregnancy complications and reduce infant deaths. If you’ve received prenatal health guidance—PRAMS probably informed it.

▶️Work in a job with possible 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀?
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) lost over 800 staff. Teams monitoring toxic exposures and other job-related illnesses and injuries were eliminated.

▶️Know someone affected by 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻/𝘀𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲?
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) cut staff supporting state opioid overdose and suicide surveillance programs.

▶️Take prescription 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?
FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) lost over 800 staff—those who review new drugs, monitor side effects, and update safety labels.

▶️Worried about injuries, 𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗺𝗮, lead poisoning, or gun violence?
CDC cut teams working on injury prevention, environmental health, and national data systems like Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS).

▶️Had a 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 appointment recently?
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research eliminated its education and outreach division, which promoted childhood oral health and prevention.

▶️Rely on rural or community 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀?
HRSA’s Bureau of Primary Health Care, which serves 31 million people, lost a third of its staff. This affects prenatal care, HIV programs, and access in underserved areas.

▶️Ever had an 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 disease?
Entire teams working on HIV, tuberculosis, and global health preparedness were cut. Even the acting director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) was placed on leave.

▶️Think emergency 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 matter?
The Strategic National Stockpile team—responsible for pandemic PPE, vaccines, and critical medical equipment—was hit.

▶️Have a loved one in 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 or on Medicare?

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lost staff focused on nursing home oversight, home health inspections, fraud detection, and minority health rights.

▶️Support 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 health abroad?
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding for global family planning was terminated, cutting off contraception access for nearly 50 million people.

▶️Need help with utility bills or emergency support?
The entire federal staff of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) was laid off. This program helped low-income families keep the lights and heat on.

▶️Care about tobacco prevention and cessation?
CDC’s Tobacco Control Program was gutted, pausing key efforts to reduce smoking-related deaths.

▶️Value government transparency?
CDC’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) office was eliminated, cutting off public access to health data and records.

These aren’t administrative trims. These are broad, systemic cuts targeting the very people and programs that keep the public healthy and safe.

Stay informed. Speak up. S𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲. We all have something to lose.