The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement terminated its contract with legal aid groups for unaccompanied immigrant children despite a federal court order, leaving vulnerable minors without legal representation in immigration proceedings.

On April 16, 2025, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that rising autism rates are linked to environmental toxins, contradicting CDC findings. This statement has sparked debate over the reliance on established science in public health policy.

Massive layoffs and organizational restructuring at HHS to reduce the workforce by nearly 10,000 positions have raised concerns over worker rights, transparency, and public accountability. Key functions such as the CDC's FOIA office and FDA communications teams were eliminated as part of a politically driven reorganization.

The Department of Health and Human Services executed a sweeping reduction-in-force that impacted around 10,000 employees using irregular procedures, inaccurate termination notices, and a failure to properly involve unions, prompting legal experts and internal grievances over potential violations of labor rights and collective bargaining agreements.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced a sweeping reorganization, including firing 10,000 full-time employees, as part of a broader cost‐cutting initiative driven by Trump administration directives and the DOGE program. The move aims to centralize operations and reduce bureaucratic layers, but it poses serious risks to worker rights and the agency’s ability to safeguard public health.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a major restructuring plan to lay off 10,000 workers, encourage 10,000 additional early retirements/voluntary separations, and close or merge several agencies including key public health centers, raising concerns over the impact on critical health services and worker rights.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reiterated its support for federal restrictions that prevent grant recipients from using federal funds for lobbying activities. This policy ensures that federal money is not used to influence political officials or legislation, reinforcing ethical public governance.

HHS has published and supports federal regulations requiring grant recipients to certify that no federal funds are used for lobbying activities. This policy ensures that federal money is not misused to exert undue political influence, thereby upholding transparency and reducing corruption risks.

An OIG evaluation of HHS grant administration detailed that while grant guidelines strictly prohibit the use of funds for lobbying, two cases of noncompliance were identified during FY2011-2012. The report recommended improved interagency communication and centralized guidance to better enforce this prohibition.

An investigation by the HHS Inspector General revealed that CDC prevention grants may have been used in ways that effectively encouraged lobbying activities, potentially violating federal rules that prohibit the use of health funds for political advocacy. The inspector general’s early alert letter to CDC Director Thomas Frieden highlighted materials and guidance that could be interpreted as authorizing impermissible lobbying by grant recipients.