TUESDAY, March 11, 2025 (HealthDay News) — In a sweeping effort to downsize the federal workforce, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has offered buyouts of up to $25,000 to many of its 80,000 employees.

The offer, announced in an email sent to a broad range of HHS staff, is part of ongoing cost-cutting measures under the Trump administration, The Associated Press reported.

The voluntary separation offer allows employees to opt in through 5 p.m. March 14.

The email was sent to workers across multiple agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

HHS, one of the largest federal agencies, operates on a $1.7 trillion budget, most of it for Medicare and Medicaid. Those programs provide health coverage for nearly half of the U.S. population, including older adults and low-income individuals.

Trump administration officials, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have signaled plans for deep staff cuts.

Kennedy said last year that he wanted to cut 600 NIH employees, adding: “I have a list in my head.” He said some workers “made really bad decisions” on nutrition guidelines, according to the AP.

This effort follows earlier federal job cuts. In January, many government employees received a deferred resignation offer with eight months of pay, while thousands of probationary workers were fired.

The latest move comes as the CDC is responding to a deadly measles outbreak in 12 states. Lawmakers are also debating major Medicaid budget cuts.

HHS workers interested in the voluntary buyout offer have been directed to contact their local human resources office.

More information

Government Executive has more about federal government layoffs.

SOURCE: The Associated Press, March 9, 2025

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