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Press Release

Rep. Ami Bera, Democratic Doctors Condemn Mass Layoffs at HHS, FDA, and CDC

Firings affect divisions that respond to disease outbreaks, approve drugs, and provide health insurance coverage

Today, the Congressional Doctors Caucus released the following statement condemning RFK Jr.’s proposed mass layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), warning of devastating consequences for public health and safety.

“Eliminating 25% of HHS staff, including scientists and researchers, weakens our ability to combat disease outbreaks, ensure food and drug safety, and advance life-saving medical innovations. These cuts come as we are facing active threats to our public health, including a rapidly expanding measles outbreak and a deadly bird flu outbreak. Weakening these agencies at such a critical time threatens public health, slows medical innovation, and puts millions of American lives at risk. The American people deserve a government that protects them, not one that abandons them.”

Background

According to an HHS fact sheet, the 20,000 eliminated positions include:

  • 3,500 FDA employees, reducing the agency’s capacity to review and approve life-saving medications, monitor food safety, and regulate medical devices.

  • 2,400 CDC employees, with the agency’s role drastically narrowed to epidemic response, undermining efforts to prevent chronic diseases, track opioid overdoses, and address vaccine hesitancy.

The Congressional Doctors Caucus is calling for an immediate reversal of these dangerous layoffs and for the Republican leadership in Congress to take action to protect Americans’ public health.

Members of the caucus include:

  • Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) – Internal Medicine

  • Herb Conaway Jr., M.D. (NJ-03) – Internal Medicine

  • Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) – Pulmonary & Critical Care 

  • Kelly Morrison, M.D. (MN-03) – Obstetrics & Gynecology

  • Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25) – Emergency Medicine 

  • Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) – Pediatrics