HHS Reinstates Hundreds of Employees After Controversial Layoffs

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reinstated nearly 1,300 employees following significant layoffs earlier this year, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced during a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee meeting on Tuesday. The reinstatements include 722 workers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 220 at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and over 300 at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), including staff supporting a program for 9/11 first responders and survivors.

The layoffs, part of a broader HHS reorganization under the Trump administration, sparked controversy and legal challenges, with lawsuits claiming the cuts were illegal and disrupted critical health programs. Kennedy acknowledged gaps in the department’s ability to function due to the layoffs, noting that reinstated employees were performing “important work that was critical.” However, he maintained that the terminations primarily targeted redundant administrative roles, such as external affairs staff or overlapping offices, rather than those directly involved in healthcare delivery.

The restructuring has faced scrutiny for its chaotic execution, marked by poor communication and alleged mistakes. A court order this spring paused further job cuts across federal agencies, leaving affected HHS employees on administrative leave pending future decisions. Tuesday’s hearing, intended to focus on the HHS 2026 budget, also addressed concerns about reduced NIH research grants and the dismissal of 17 members of a CDC vaccine advisory panel.

As lawsuits and debates continue, the reinstatements signal an effort to restore stability to the department, though questions remain about the long-term impact of the overhaul.

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