WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has outlined an ambitious plan to overhaul the department, citing inefficiencies and administrative bloat as key obstacles to improving public health. Kennedy, who assumed office two months ago, is launching a series of sweeping reforms to refocus the agency and address America’s declining health outcomes.
“I became Secretary of Health and Human Services with one overarching goal — to Make America Healthy Again,” said Kennedy. “Spending more money and doing the same things is not going to fix our problem. That is why we are undertaking radical change at HHS.”
Kennedy highlighted the staggering $1.7 trillion annual budget of HHS, which represents nearly one-third of the federal budget. However, he noted this funding has failed to reverse the nation’s decline in health metrics, including rising chronic disease rates and a decreasing life expectancy.
Restructuring Efforts
Kennedy’s reforms, which are aligned with President Trump’s executive order to reduce the federal workforce, include a reduction of more than 20,000 employees through voluntary programs and planned redundancies. Changes will target three key areas:
- Streamlining Administrative Functions: Centralizing human resources, procurement, and IT operations will cut redundancies in more than 40 offices across HHS. This accounts for 70% of the staffing cuts.
- Reducing Program Overlap: The department will consolidate initiatives addressing women’s health, minority health, and HIV/AIDS to improve focus and coordination, while maintaining current program goals.
- Closing Regional Offices: HHS will shutter high-cost regional offices in Boston, Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle, reallocating operations to Washington, D.C., and remaining regional offices.
Broader Vision for Reform
Looking ahead, Kennedy aims to restructure major divisions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which will focus exclusively on outbreak preparedness and response. He also plans to unite several HHS offices under a new entity, the Administration for a Healthy America, dedicated to disease prevention and combating chronic illnesses.
Kennedy concluded by reaffirming his commitment to transformative change within the department. “I did not come to Washington, DC, to be a bureaucrat. I came here to drive change and to team with President Trump to improve and save the lives of countless Americans.”
The ongoing reforms are part of Kennedy’s broader mission to streamline federal operations while addressing the health challenges facing the nation.
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