Under Trump’s new plan, America is being made sicker

“Under Trump’s new plan, America is being made sick. Employees within the vast U.S. Health and Human Services Department are being handed pink slips, with up to 10,000 people expected to lose their jobs. These cuts are affecting researchers, scientists, doctors, support staff, and senior leaders – essentially stripping the federal government of crucial experts who have long been instrumental in guiding decisions on medical research, drug approvals, and other critical issues.

Last week, Kennedy unveiled a plan to revamp the department, which oversees tracking health trends, conducting medical research, monitoring food and medicine safety, and administering health insurance programs for nearly half the nation. The layoffs will reduce HHS to 62,000 positions, eliminating nearly a quarter of its workforce – a staggering 10,000 jobs lost.

At the NIH, the cuts have already claimed at least four directors, while the FDA has seen numerous staff members who regulate drugs, food, medical devices, and tobacco products receive notices. Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington has warned that these cuts will have dire consequences during natural disasters and disease outbreaks, such as the current measles epidemic.

The CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has been hit particularly hard, with over 1,000 employees affected. In addition to federal health agencies, state and local health departments are also feeling the impact of HHS’s decision to retract over $11 billion in COVID-19-related funding.

So, America, is this what you voted for Trump for? To make us all sicker and less safe? The Department of Disease seems to be a more fitting name for what is happening under this administration.”