US government shutdown to furlough 41% of health agency workers

30/9/2025 7:33

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to furlough 41% of its workforce if Congress fails to prevent a looming government shutdown, suspending critical functions including public health messaging, contractor oversight, and medical research.



Of the department's 79,717 employees, 32,460 are expected to be furloughed under the contingency staffing plan it released over the weekend. Programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act marketplace, and Food and Drug Administration drug approvals will continue but other public

health functions face significant disruptions.



"CDC communication to the American public about health-related information will be hampered, CMS will be unable to provide oversight to major contractors, and NIH will not have the ability to admit new patients to the Clinical Center, except for whom it is medically necessary," the plan summary said.