1. What is the Department of Health and Human Services?
2. List of Health and Human Services Firings
   1. Various Employees
   2. Christi Grimm

What is the Department of Health and Human Services?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a federal agency responsible for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. It oversees programs that support public health, medical research, food and drug safety, disease prevention, and health insurance. Some of its best-known agencies include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

HHS also manages major programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which provide health coverage to older adults, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities. Another key part of HHS’s mission is responding to public health emergencies, such as pandemics, and working to reduce health disparities across different communities. The agency works closely with state and local governments, nonprofits, and international organizations to achieve its goals.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., HHS is led by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, a Cabinet-level official appointed by the President. With a large budget and wide-reaching responsibilities, HHS plays a central role in shaping healthcare policy and improving the nation’s well-being.

TL;DR: The Department of Health and Human Services is the part of the U.S. government that helps people stay healthy, get medical care, and makes sure things like medicine and food are safe.

List of Health and Human Services Firings

Below is a list of Health and Human Services personnel that have been fired by President Donald Trump or the Trump Administration, sorted by most recent:

Various Employees

Approximately 10,000 Employees – Health and Human Services
Firings on April 1, 2025

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is undergoing a major restructuring that includes laying off 10,000 employees and shutting down entire agencies responsible for critical programs like addiction services and community health centers. The process has been marked by confusion and disorganization, with some employees learning they were fired only when their building access was revoked, and others being rehired shortly after. Human resources teams have been overwhelmed, making it difficult for employees to get clear information.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended the overhaul as a necessary step to eliminate inefficiencies and improve public health outcomes. He stated that the changes aim to save $1.8 billion annually and reduce the department’s workforce from 82,000 to 62,000 through layoffs, early retirement, and other downsizing measures. While acknowledging the impact on affected workers, Kennedy emphasized a shift toward disease prevention and introduced new leadership at the NIH and FDA as part of his broader reform agenda.

TL;DR: The government fired 10,000 Health and Human Services workers in a messy overhaul to shrink the agency and save money, leaving many confused about who still has a job.

Christi Grimm

Inspector General – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Fired on January 24, 2025

Christi Grimm, a longtime official at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), served as its Inspector General and had a career with the agency beginning in 1999. She held multiple senior roles, including Chief of Staff and Deputy IG, and earned degrees from the University of Colorado, NYU, and Harvard’s Kennedy School.

Grimm was dismissed by President Donald Trump in January 2025 as part of a broader removal of inspectors general. Her firing came via an email late on a Friday evening, surprising many in the oversight community. Grimm had previously led the HHS Inspector General’s office during critical oversight work in the COVID-19 pandemic, including reporting on medical supply shortages and testing delays.

TL;DR: Christi Grimm, a longtime health department watchdog who reported problems during COVID, was suddenly fired by Trump along with other inspectors general in early 2025.