Employees were notified of a "Reduction in Force" shortly before 8 p.m. ET on Friday, according to a source within the agency who was not authorized to discuss the layoffs publicly. According to the source, administration officials offered no rationale for who lost their jobs: "I think the general feeling today is shock and not understanding why?" the source told NPR.
Two psychiatry organizations the Southern California Psychiatry Society and the recently formed grassroots Committee to Protect Public Mental Health have released statements saying that the actions of the leader of the Department of Health and Human Services have increased stigma, instilled fear and hurt access to mental health and addiction care. "As physicians committed to evidence-based care, we are alarmed by the direction of HHS under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr," the Committee to Protect Public Mental Health said in a statement.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers from across both chambers of Congress introduced legislation this week calling for the Department of Health and Human Services "to dedicate sufficient resources" to the crisis and suicide lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth after the Trump administration terminated the service in July. The measure said this effort would include "establishing, re-establishing, operating, and maintaining specialized services" for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program.
