White House preparing executive order to cut thousands of US health agency jobs

The White House is reportedly preparing an executive order to lay off thousands of employees at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited sources familiar with the situation.

On Thursday, however, the White House denied it is drafting an order to cut staff across federal health agencies.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the proposed order, which could be issued as soon as next week, would require agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and others to reduce their workforce by a set percentage.

Agency officials have been instructed to create lists identifying probationary employees who must be retained for essential roles and those who could be let go, the report said.

This news follows an offer made by the Trump administration last week, giving 2 million full-time federal civilian workers the chance to stop working immediately while still receiving pay and benefits through Sept. 30 as part of Trump’s plan to reduce the size of the federal government.

HHS currently employs more than 83,000 people, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The department handles a variety of critical tasks, including monitoring outbreaks like the current bird flu and other viruses.