Nurses React to ‘Deeply Disturbing’ Federal Healthcare Cuts

• The Department of Health and Human Services announced in late March it would undergo a “dramatic restructuring” to align with an executive order from the White House, which included federal healthcare cuts.  
• Those changes took effect this week, with several National Institute of Health leaders placed on administrative leave and thousands of employees losing their jobs. 
• Nursing advocacy groups and specialty associations have come together to speak out against the cuts and warn that the health of the country could be at risk. 

Federal layoffs and funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health already are drawing criticism from nursing groups, saying the health of the country is at risk. 

The Department of Health and Human Services announced in late March it would undergo a “dramatic restructuring” to align with an executive order from the White House. This week, several NIH leaders were placed on administrative leave and thousands of employees were laid off. 

The Delaware Nursing Association called the federal healthcare cuts “deeply disturbing,” and some states immediately announced layoffs and a reduction in services as a direct result of the initiatives. 

Federal Healthcare Cuts Have Local Ramifications 

HHS, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., will slash 20,000 jobs across its divisions, which includes reducing 28 divisions to 15 and eliminating half of its regional offices. Other changes include: 

• Eliminating 1,200 NIH positions “by centralizing procurement, human resources, and communications across its 27 institutes and centers.” 
• Eliminating roughly 300 positions from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 

Reductions also will be made at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration. The agency heads placed on administrative leave included the National Institute of Nursing Research. 

The Delaware Nurses Association said in a statement that one of the “most concerning” consequences of the cuts is its effect on nursing education, noting that the NINR provides grant funding to nursing schools and programs. 

“Nurses at all levels of practice and education are integral to the healthcare system, particularly in addressing staffing shortages, improving patient care, and advancing healthcare delivery,” DNA stated. “The loss of funding for nursing education will undermine efforts to grow the nursing workforce, further exacerbating critical shortages and jeopardizing the quality of care provided to patients.” 

The federal moves already have had trickle-down effects. The Minnesota Department of Health announced on April 1 that it sent “layoff and separation notices” to 170 employees. Their positions, according to the department, were funded by now-terminated federal grants. Recent employment offers also have been rescinded because of the cuts and roughly 300 employees received “at risk” notices. 

Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham stated in a news release that her staff are trying to determine how much “critical public health work” can be saved. 

“It is devastating to be forced to reduce critical services and give notices to so many dedicated public health professionals because the federal government decided to renege on its commitment to our state,” Cunningham said. “They left us in the lurch, with no advance notice, no close-out period, halting work that would have helped us address chronic gaps in the system and be better prepared for future threats.” 

Nursing Industry Responds to Federal Healthcare Cuts

National Nurses United doubled down on its opposition to the cuts, calling them an “intentional destruction of critical public health care staffing, resources, and infrastructure.” They argue that NIOSH staff are key to illness and injury prevention, along with investigating hazardous work situations. 

“The knowledge, expertise, and resources they provide empower workers like nurses to understand how to protect ourselves, our patients, and our communities,” NNU stated. “The 225,000 nurses in our union and the millions of nurses across the country depend on these federal agencies to keep us safe and to keep our patients safe … The nation’s largest union of registered nurses is already mobilizing to protect our patients and our co-workers. We will fight back against these cruel and short-sighted cuts and against any agenda that puts profits before patients.” 

The American Academy of Nursing and American Association of Colleges of Nursing released a joint statement offering support for the nurse scientists and researchers at NINR, emphasizing the relationship between these professionals and overall health of the nation. 

“The nexus between nursing education and science is vital as nurse researchers often serve as faculty who prepare the nursing workforce, improve patient outcomes, and increase the overall health of our nation,” AACN President and CEO Deborah Trautman, PhD, RN, FAAN, said in the statement. “Elevating the number of nurse scientists within the National Institute of Nursing Research and NIH is essential as we work to shape a research and healthcare landscape that is innovative, collaborative, and focused on improving population health.” 

Several states already have filed a lawsuit in hopes of preserving funding allocated for state departments of health and human services that had already been approved by Congress.  

Delaware Health and Human Services Cabinet Secretary Josette D. Manning, Esq. Stated in a news release that the cuts will cause “very real and serious impacts” in the state. 

Similarly, the Delaware Nurses Association said the cuts have put the “future of critical research” and public health at risk. Among the association’s concerns are diminishing workforce morale and long-term consequences for public health. 

“The Delaware Nurses Association finds this deeply disturbing and a threat to the health of our neighbors,” DNA stated. “Delaware is a ‘state of neighbors,’ and we must look after each other. This vital funding provides multifaceted support to the health of Delawareans and our economy.” 

The Bottom Line

The Department of Health and Human Services has cut thousands of positions across federal health institutions that opponents say will negatively impact public health nationwide. Nursing organizations have already come out against the cuts and a lawsuit has been filed in hopes of saving the already allocated funding that has been revoked. 

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