The restructuring of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Trump administration’s executive order, “Implementing the President’s Department of Government Efficiency Workforce Optimization Initiative” includes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Departmental Appeals Board, Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals.
CMS will decrease its workforce by approximately 300 employees, with a focus on reducing minor duplication across the agency. The restructuring will not impact Medicare and Medicaid services, according to HHS.
The critical programs within the Administration for Community Living that support older adults and people of all ages with disabilities will be split across CMS, the Administration for Children and Families, and the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
The NIH will decrease its workforce by approximately 1,200 employees by centralizing procurement, human resources, and communications across its 27 institutes and centers.
A new assistant secretary for enforcement will provide oversight of the Departmental Appeals Board, Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals, and the Office for Civil Rights to combat waste, fraud, and abuse.
HHS says the restructuring will save taxpayers $1.8 billion per year through a reduction in workforce of about 10,000 full-time employees. When combined with HHS’ other efforts, the restructuring will result in a total downsizing from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees.
