Alliance: Extreme Cuts to Federal Agencies will Harm Older Adults Most 

Following yesterday’s announcement by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., announcing his plan to “streamline” and make the agency “more efficient and more effective,” Scott Frey, Senior Vice President of Public Policy for the Alliance for Aging Research released the following statement: 

The Alliance for Aging Research is deeply concerned by this week’s abrupt decision to cut 20,000 more federal health agency jobs and merge HHS with a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). Within a few weeks in office, with no public input and apparently no consultation with key members of Congress from either party, the Administration’s announcement of budget cuts sweeping programmatic consolidation, and elimination of 25 percent of the unique institutional expertise within the HHS is extremely concerning. It strains the imagination to consider that this will improve public health and career employee morale, as the Secretary stated. 

Agencies duly authorized and monitored by Congress over decades through public deliberation, debate, and oversight now face major upheaval with little consideration as to how all their unique and critical mission and systems can effectively ensure continuity of service to the public. 

At stake in this process is nothing less than the strength of agencies that 

• Monitor the safety and quality of our food and vital medicines;  

• Monitor and prevent the spread of infectious disease;  

• Research and develop the science that leads to vaccines, treatments, and cures for infectious and chronic illnesses;  

• Ensure older adults and people with disabilities are provided adequate nutrition, health, and long-term care services; and 

• Ensure protection of older adults and others against physical and financial abuse.   

Cuts and consolidations thus far have prompted mass dismissal and exodus of some of our nation’s best and brightest scientists and program and policy experts across the federal government. Among the hardest hit, the National Institute on Aging has already lost nearly 17 percent of its workforce, including many of our nation’s foremost experts in Alzheimer’s and related diseases. 

The dismantling of the Administration on Community Living (ACL) which provides critical direct services to older adults and those with physical and mental disabilities, and slashing support for the National Mental Health Crisis Hotline (988) is particularly alarming. Cuts to Meals on Wheels, family caregiver support programs, and Medicare open enrollment assistance under the guise of “Making America Healthy Again” does not add up.  

During his confirmation Secretary Kennedy pledged renewed transparency. We call upon him to reconsider these cuts, slow down this reckless train, and engage with members of Congress and the public on these drastic decisions. We urge Congress to assert its oversight authority through legislation and public hearings to ensure that any programmatic, structural, or personnel changes within HHS are duly authorized and truly serve the public interest.