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Rep. Bera joins Democratic Doctors to condemn layoffs at federal health agencies
The proposed layoffs will significantly impact key agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Congressional Doctors Caucus / ruiz.house.gov
Indian American Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA) joined his colleagues as part of the Congressional Doctors Caucus to criticize mass layoffs at the federal health agencies, warning of serious risks to public health.
The proposed layoffs will significantly impact key agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), raising alarms about the nation's preparedness to handle ongoing and future public health crises.
Also Read: Rep. Bera announces launch of Congressional Doctors Caucus
“Eliminating 25 percent of HHS staff, including scientists and researchers, weakens our ability to combat disease outbreaks, ensure food and drug safety, and advance life-saving medical innovations. These cuts come as we are facing active threats to our public health, including a rapidly expanding measles outbreak and a deadly bird flu outbreak,” the Congressional Doctors Caucus said in a statement.
According to an HHS fact sheet, the layoffs would affect 20,000 positions, including 3,500 FDA employees, which the lawmakers claim will reduce the agency’s capacity to review and approve medications, monitor food safety, and regulate medical devices. The CDC would lose 2,400 employees, significantly narrowing its role to epidemic response and limiting efforts to address chronic diseases, opioid overdoses, and vaccine hesitancy, they stated.
“Weakening these agencies at such a critical time threatens public health, slows medical innovation, and puts millions of American lives at risk. The American people deserve a government that protects them, not one that abandons them,” the lawmakers further said.
They warn that without intervention, the mass firings could cripple the nation's public health infrastructure, leaving Americans vulnerable amid ongoing health crises. Members of the caucus include Rep. Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), Rep. Herb Conaway Jr., M.D. (NJ-03), Rep. Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), Rep. Kelly Morrison, M.D. (MN-03), and Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25).
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