American Academy of Nursing Responds to HHS Restructuring
Consolidations and Staff Reductions Will Impact Health Across All Populations
Washington, DC (March 28, 2025)—The American
Academy of Nursing (Academy) is deeply alarmed by the proposed plans to
restructure the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
through the consolidation of key HHS agencies and regional offices.1 Combining agencies and reducing offices—each
of which has distinct and clear directives—may lessen the impact of
vital initiatives, research capacity, training programs, communication
channels, and in turn, worsen the health and well-being of the nation.
Further,
staffing cuts within HHS agencies will greatly limit the operation of
critical programs. According to the official HHS notice,1 it
outlines an estimated cut of 20,000 personnel, or a 25% reduction. This
significant reduction will severely constrain forward momentum of
federal activities that impact all facets of health—
from workforce development to safety net programs such as Medicare and
Medicaid, as well as the public health infrastructure— in both the short
and long term.
While
the Academy understands the Administration’s goals to remove redundancy
and curtail excess government spending, cuts and consolidations of this
scale are extremely concerning and potentially dangerous, especially
given the rapid pace.
“Restructuring
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and cutting dedicated
staff may have devastating unintended consequences,” said Academy
President Linda Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FNAP, FAAN. “Without a
careful assessment, given the extensive implications of this proposed
reorganization, it may severely impact access to health services,
innovation in the health care sector, and stability for patients across
all ages, demographics, and health statuses. A consolidation of this
gravity needs time, resources, and planning to implement.”
The
Academy strongly urges the prioritization of health and well-being of
all people, which cannot be achieved through massive cuts and
consolidations at HHS. At a time when federal actions have already
limited research capacity and jeopardized the translation of key
findings for health promotion, an intentional approach must be taken to
sustain what works and innovate for improvements. As a nation, we must
prioritize research and development, community-based programs, and
ensure the necessary staff to investigate and communicate important
findings to the public.
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About the American Academy of Nursing
The American Academy of Nursing serves the public by advancing health
policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination
of nursing knowledge. Academy Fellows are inducted into the
organization for their extraordinary contributions to improve health
locally and globally. With more than 3,200 Fellows, the Academy
represents nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research,
administration, practice, and academia.
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