Trump Administration Cuts 1,165 NIH Employees Amid Federal Workforce Overhaul


Internal memo reveals NIH layoffs as part of broader government restructuring / Reuters


A newly surfaced internal email from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has confirmed that the Trump administration has dismissed 1,165 employees, a revision from the previously estimated 1,500. The internal memo, distributed among senior NIH officials on Saturday evening, highlighted that while some names were removed from the initial list, others may have been added. Affected personnel are set to be placed on administrative leave starting Monday.

According to a senior NIH official, employees received termination notices and will remain on administrative leave for four weeks before their official dismissal. The move represents approximately 6% of NIH’s workforce, which comprises around 20,000 individuals across its 27 institutes and centers. The NIH plays a critical role in funding medical research, from pandemic-related vaccine development to cutting-edge pharmaceutical advancements.

The terminations align with the long-standing reform objectives of recently appointed Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Since his confirmation, Kennedy has been vocal about his intent to overhaul leadership within the NIH, pledging in November to remove 600 employees and bring in new personnel. However, it remains unclear if the current round of layoffs includes those initially targeted in Kennedy’s restructuring plans.

The administration’s efforts to streamline federal agencies extended beyond the NIH. On Saturday night, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also saw job cuts, as reported by Stat News. While precise numbers remain undisclosed, sources indicate that a portion of the layoffs affected employees within the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. The FDA has yet to issue an official response regarding the scope of these terminations.

Stat News further reported that the Department of Health and Human Services, encompassing agencies such as the NIH, FDA, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is undergoing a broad workforce reduction. In total, 5,200 probationary employees—approximately 6% of HHS’s 80,000-strong workforce—are being dismissed. Among them, the CDC experienced significant cuts, with nearly half of its probationary workers being laid off on Friday.

These federal agency layoffs mark a sweeping initiative spearheaded by President Donald Trump, in collaboration with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, aimed at restructuring the U.S. government workforce. The administration’s large-scale dismissals have raised concerns regarding the future of critical public health initiatives and regulatory oversight as key agencies undergo rapid personnel changes.

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