For Immediate Release:
[April 1, 2025]
Layoffs in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began this week as part of the Trump administration’s plan to cut 10,000 jobs. The job cuts will affect programs focused on disease and injury prevention, mental health services, environmental health, and other key initiatives that address important health issues.
The cuts to these programs will slow the progress of necessary public health research and communications, with a potentially devastating effect on minority populations and every race who is disproportionately impacted by many of the diseases and ailments these programs address. The layoffs will also hamper efforts to limit the spread of infectious diseases while the country faces a measles outbreak in a growing number of states.
Organizations that have been negatively impacted by the cuts thus far include the following:
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Injury Center)
- Division of HIV Prevention
- Office on Smoking and Health
- Global Health Center
- Environmental Health Science and Practice
- Population Health Programs
- Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
The National Medical Association (NMA) advocates for improved health care access for all and warns that these mass job cuts will have a negative impact on efforts to protect and treat patients across the country. We urge the administration to reconsider these drastic cuts and make decisions that improve the lives of people across the country.
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About the National Medical Association:
The NMA is the nation’s oldest and largest organization representing Black physicians and health professionals in the U.S. and promotes the collective interests of physicians and patients of African descent. We serve as the voice of Black physicians and a leading voice for parity in medicine, elimination of health disparities, and promotion of optimal health. To learn more about the NMA, please visit https://www.nmanet.org/.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Sherelyn Weber
469-290-4495
sherelyn@bdaviscomm.com
