Schumer, Gillibrand write letter to U.S. HHS Secretary Kennedy in reaction to restructuring initiative, workforce reduction

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is to undergo a complete restructuring, including the reduction of numerous full-time employees in accordance to President Trump’s executive order.

This development has since stirred up a mix of reactions from federal and state leaders in New York.

First of all, according to a press release from the U.S. HHS, the goal of this restructuring is to save taxpayers $1.8 billion per year through a reduction in workforce of about 10,000 full-time employees who are part of this most recent transformation.

When combined with other HHS efforts, including early retirement and Fork in the Road, a total downsizing from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees is expected.

The second aspect of this restructuring focusses around streamlining the various HHS divisions and regional offices and finally, the third detail of this initiative involves efforts in focusing on wholesome food, clean water, and the elimination of environmental toxins (see the official HHS fact sheet) .

"We are streamlining HHS to make our agency more efficient and more effective," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

"We will eliminate an entire alphabet soup of departments, while preserving their core functions by merging them into a new organization called the Administration for a Healthy America or AHA. This overhaul will improve the health of the entire nation — to Make America Healthy Again."

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. image.

On the other hand, officials in New York are sounding the alarm over the restructuring of HHS, declaring the move as a "harmful decision" which would rip away $300 million for New York State’s health services.

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both New York Democrats, say these cuts will impact New Yorkers in every corner of the state because they will reduce New York State’s preparedness for infectious diseases and ability to provide mental health services.

“Stopping the spread of measles is not government waste. Cutting off funding for addiction recovery programs in the middle of a fentanyl crisis and slashing mental health support is just plain cruel. Ripping away this $300 million in federal support for New York State’s health services with no warning or explanation while these programs are ongoing will risk people’s lives,” said Senator Schumer.

"This previously awarded federal funding is incredibly important for infectious disease preparedness, and for providing mental health and substance use recovery services for vulnerable New Yorkers," said Senator Gillibrand.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand image.  

The Senators have gone as far to write a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., calling on the Trump administration to reverse the restructuring:

"Dear Secretary Kennedy,

We are writing to denounce and demand reversal of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) cancellation of previously awarded funding for public health and mental health services to New York State. We are greatly concerned by the reckless and rash cancellation of funds spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which clearly failed to gauge the detrimental impact that these cuts will have on the entire country.

The funding that HHS plans to cancel, which includes over $300 million in funding for the New York State Department of Health, Office of Addiction Supports and Services, and Office of Mental Health, is a lifeline for New Yorkers. Retracting this funding would mean weakening infectious disease preparedness, as well as mental health and substance use recovery services, provided by hundreds of entities across the state of New York, including county health departments and school systems. New Yorkers are greatly deserving of this federal support and we reiterate our demand for HHS to reinstate these funds.

This federal funding is being used to defend against infectious disease at a time when threats are growing, most imminently with the rapid rise of measles cases which have already exceeded the 2024 national case count. As of March 26th, there were three measles cases detected in New York State. Measles is a highly infectious disease that requires robust state and local public health coordination to ensure that cases and exposures are tracked appropriately. It is especially reckless to reduce infectious disease funding to New York during a time of concern over measles spread, especially considering New York City welcomes over 50 million Americans in tourism each year. Cutting funds to this extent is putting the health and well-being of all Americans at risk, especially children, seniors, and those with compromised immune systems. These cuts threaten one of the largest sources of funding for state and local health departments nationwide. Funding supports statewide laboratory capacity, community health workers, tribal nations, and 51 local health departments. Now is the time to invest further in the entities doing this important work, not to pull back on previously awarded funding.

These resources also provide tools to community members in the fight against the ongoing opioid epidemic. Municipalities of all sizes are working with the state to pursue evidence-based solutions to minimize the scourge of substance use disorder in New York. Grants are also used to support statewide response to the mental health crisis, and rescinding this funding puts meaningful progress in jeopardy.

Clawing back federal funding that was awarded before the grant end date puts the health of New Yorkers at risk, and jeopardizes hundreds of jobs at organizations and agencies. There is still a lack of information about what funding is at risk, what organizations and agencies will lose funding, and what research and services will be ended as a result. Despite this uncertainty, it is clear that cutting funding will unnecessarily put the lives of New Yorkers at risk.

We demand that you reinstate this important funding immediately. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter."

Headline image via the office of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer.