HHS to Cut Another 10,000 Staffers: On Wednesday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a major overhaul, including additional staff cuts to both HHS’ central and regional offices. According to further press releases, the 3,500 FDA, over 2,000 CDC and ASPR, and 1,200 NIH employee dismissals will be effective by the end of May. HHS has also offered early retirement and resignation packages to certain employees, and nearly 10,000 employees have taken buyout offers.

HHS to Establish New MAHA Administration: On Wednesday, HHS announced the new “Administration for a Healthy America,” consolidating staff at OASH, HRSA, SAMHSA, ATSDR, and NIOSH. HHS says the streamlined organization will better address primary care, mental health, and maternal health programs.

DOJ to Appeal Workforce Cuts to Supreme Court: On Tuesday, the Department of Justice appealed a U.S. District Court ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the firing of thousands of probationary employees at six federal agencies was legal. In DOJ’s filing, which could give important insights into the judicial system’s stance on the White House’s federal restructuring, DOJ said, “The court’s extraordinary reinstatement order violates the separation of powers, arrogating to a single district court the Executive Branch’s powers of personnel management.”

FTC Commissioners Sue Trump Administration Over Firings: On Thursday, Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, two Democratic commissioners ousted from the Federal Trade Commission filed a suit against the Trump White House’s actions. In their complaint the commissioners cited the legal situation with only one member available to rule on cases like the investigation into PBM allegedly inflating insulin prices and other ongoing pharmacy investigations.  

DOJ Launches Health Regulation Task Force: On Thursday, the Department of Justice launched the Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force to eliminate “unnecessary or burdensome government rules that stifle competition.” DOJ will give health care stakeholders until May 26 to weigh in on state and federal laws and rules they’d like to see revisited.  

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Marty Makary and Jay Bhattacharya Confirmed: On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate voted largely along party lines to confirm Dr. Marty Makary as FDA Commissioner and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as Director of the NIH. All Republicans backed Bhattacharya in a 53-47 vote, and all Republicans plus three Democrats backed Makary in a 56-44 vote.

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