Kennedy Acknowledges Mistakes in HHS Layoffs, Plans Reinstatements

ARLINGTON, Va. — In the wake of announcing a major reduction in staff, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested Thursday that around 20% of the layoffs may have been unnecessary, indicating plans to reinstate certain programs and personnel incorrectly cut.

This admission follows the termination of approximately 10,000 employees from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) earlier this week as part of an initiative led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), overseen by billionaire Elon Musk. Kennedy acknowledged that the reorganization could have been better executed.

“Personnel that should not have been cut were cut,” Kennedy stated during a press event. “We’re reinstating them, and that was always the plan.” He elaborated that this process is consistent with the broader restructuring philosophy of making “streamlining” enhancements to the department.

Among the criticized cuts was the CDC’s entire Lead Poisoning Prevention and Surveillance Branch, which plays a crucial role in monitoring childhood lead exposure and prevention efforts. Kennedy deemed the elimination of this branch a mistake, yet specific details on when or how many other programs might be restored remain unclear.

In the aftermath of these cuts, multiple officials within the CDC have indicated a lack of information regarding plans to reinstate the lead poisoning program. The Milwaukee Health Department, which had been collaborating with CDC experts on a lead contamination issue in schools, stated that assistance has stalled due to the layoffs.

“The CDC assistance will not be able to continue due to the loss of subject matter experts,” noted CDC officials. They expressed concern that the actions have left cities like Milwaukee without necessary support in dealing with public health crises.

While some personnel at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) who received termination notices were called back to work temporarily, specifics about the reinstatement of CDC personnel have not been communicated. Kennedy, however, emphasized, “We’re going to do 80% cuts, but 20% of those are going to have to be reinstated because we’ll make mistakes.”

Erik Svendsen, director of the division overseeing the CDC’s Lead Poisoning Prevention branch, underscored the significant impact of the cut on public health efforts. “Without us, there is no other unit at the federal level that is here to support local health departments in doing what they need to do,” he said.

This restructuring comes amid a growing public concern over federal health resources amid rising health crisis rates. Kennedy reaffirmed his commitment to improving public health initiatives, despite the current turmoil, stating, “This overhaul is about realigning HHS with its core mission: to stop the chronic disease epidemic and make America healthy again.”

As the department moves forward with its controversial decisions, the immediate implications for programs that monitor and prevent lead exposure highlight a critical gap in resources needed by local health departments. The situation continues to evolve as further announcements are anticipated regarding which programs will be reinstated.