Federal Layoffs Imperil Aging, Disability Programs Amid HHS Cuts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Major programs designed to support the elderly, disabled, and low-income families are facing uncertainty after substantial layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). On April 1, 2025, at least 40% of staff members at the Administration for Community Living (ACL) received termination notices. This drastic reduction raises concerns about the continuity of essential services such as Meals on Wheels, which delivers food to homebound seniors.

“The programs that ACL implements improve the lives of literally tens of millions of older adults, people with disabilities and their families and caregivers,” said Alison Barkoff, former ACL director, who spoke to multiple members of her former staff. “There’s no way to have these layoffs and not impact the programs and the people who rely on them.”

The layoffs come in the midst of a broader reduction plan, with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stating the agency aims to streamline itself to better tackle health challenges, including the chronic disease epidemic. However, agency staff and health experts warn that these cuts will significantly hinder public health efforts.

Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health and former COVID-19 Response Coordinator, stated, “We rely on our CDC for things like tracking down disease outbreaks. We rely on NIH for research into new treatments and tests and vaccines.” Jha expressed concern that the layoffs could result in increased public health risks.

Among the displaced workers was Andrew Germain, who managed compliance monitoring for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This program provides crucial support to about 5.9 million households needing help with heating and cooling bills. Germain reflected on the seriousness of losing federal staff to oversee these essential services. “Without federal staff to run the program, it’s unclear how it will continue after the current appropriation ends in September,” he noted.

Additionally, Vikki Pretlow, who worked as a program specialist in the LIHEAP office, articulated the emotional toll of the layoffs. “You can be paid much more in a different place… but the people I worked with have a great heart for service,” she said.

The full implications of these cuts are still unfolding. As the HHS seeks to redistribute responsibilities within the agency, concerns remain regarding how vital services that assist marginalized communities will be maintained. The Heritage Foundation had previously suggested shifting some of ACL’s functions to other departments, although there is no clarity on the current distribution of responsibilities.

Former FDA leaders also voiced alarm, citing the staff reductions that have affected the agency critically responsible for drug safety and approval processes. Dr. Robert Califf, a former FDA commissioner, expressed dismay, claiming, “The FDA as we’ve known it is finished. I believe that history will see this as a huge mistake.”

As Congress takes notice, Representative Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., described the situation as an unprecedented attack on the federal health workforce that will inevitably harm healthcare services. He criticized Kennedy’s assurances that such cuts would not impact healthcare delivery, asserting, “Everyone paying attention knows it.”

The fate of the ACL and its programs remains uncertain as the nation grapples with the potential fallout from these significant workforce reductions.