- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is reportedly in crisis, facing significant staff shortages and health emergencies like Ebola and measles, with key leadership positions vacant.
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is accused of being disengaged, rarely visiting the department's headquarters, working short hours, and appearing "checked out" in meetings.
- Kennedy has reportedly focused on specific issues like food guidelines and anti-vaccine research, while neglecting other critical responsibilities and not publicly addressing the Ebola outbreak in Africa.
- Current and former HHS employees warn of plummeting morale and preparedness, with the agency losing approximately 17,000 staff since the administration took office through layoffs, early retirements, and resignations, partly in protest of Kennedy’s questioning of mainstream health science.
- These issues at HHS are part of a broader trend of federal agencies experiencing significant staff reductions, including the Department of Justice and the U.S. diplomatic corps, with further cuts potentially looming.
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