RFK Jr.: HHS Worker Reinstatements Detailed
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is bringing back hundreds of employees after a series of mass layoffs earlier in the year.
- Kennedy also noted the return of more then 300 individuals to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), including those involved in the program providing care...
- The initial layoffs, which occurred months prior, were part of a department reorganization that sparked controversy.
HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has reinstated hundreds of workers at the CDC and NIH, reversing earlier layoffs. These crucial actions underscore the critical role of these employees in maintaining the nationS health infrastructure. The reinstatements follow a period of controversy, with critics contending the initial restructuring led to operational gaps. Legal challenges to the layoffs loom, while Kennedy asserts the cuts targeted redundant administrative roles. over 700 CDC and NIH staff are back on the job, and News Directory 3 follows this story closely. The HHS is now awaiting a court decision to determine its next steps regarding staffing. Discover what’s next in this developing situation.
HHS Reinstates Hundreds After Layoffs, Cites critical Role
Updated June 25, 2025
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is bringing back hundreds of employees after a series of mass layoffs earlier in the year. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee that 722 workers have been reinstated at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with 220 at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These reinstatements highlight the critical role these employees play in the nation’s health infrastructure.
Kennedy also noted the return of more then 300 individuals to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), including those involved in the program providing care for first responders and survivors of the 9/11 attacks. The declaration came during a hearing focused on the HHS budget for 2026, which also addressed topics ranging from NIH research grant cuts to the dismissal of CDC vaccine panel members.
The initial layoffs, which occurred months prior, were part of a department reorganization that sparked controversy. Critics argued the restructuring was executed poorly, leading to operational gaps. “In some cases there have been gaps in our ability to perform our duties,” Kennedy told lawmakers, acknowledging the importance of the work these employees performed.
The Trump administration’s restructuring faces legal challenges, with lawsuits alleging the layoffs were illegal and undermined the department’s ability to manage essential health programs. However, Kennedy maintained that the cuts primarily targeted administrative roles to address redundancies, such as consolidating external affairs personnel and offices with overlapping responsibilities.The goal of the HHS was to streamline operations and improve efficiency.
“The people who were let go were people who were not involved in primary care or in delivery of care,” Kennedy said. “They were redundant administrative offices that have been added to over the past eight years.”
A court order has currently put a hold on job cuts at most federal agencies. Affected HHS employees are on administrative leave,pending further decisions once the injunction is lifted,according to Kennedy.
What’s next
The HHS will determine its next steps regarding staffing once the court injunction on federal agency job cuts is resolved. The department’s decisions will likely shape its ability to address key public health challenges and fulfill its mission.