The statement below is issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American College of Physicians:
“For decades and across many presidential administrations, our organizations and the tens of thousands of physicians we represent have closely collaborated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support the health of our patients across the country. From investing in vaccine research to improving health insurance coverage to ensuring medications are safe and effective, HHS has been a key partner.
“Our members see the critical work done by HHS employees each day and we are therefore alarmed and concerned by the sweeping cuts announced this week to HHS staff, its regional offices and internal agencies. These cuts took place just days after the abrupt cancellation of billions of dollars in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants to state and local public health departments, the impacts of which we have already been hearing about from our members nationwide.
“Laying off over 20% of the HHS workforce will not make America healthier, but it will threaten our members’ ability to care for their patients at a time when we need to be strengthening the physician workforce and our national healthcare infrastructure as we confront a growing measles outbreak.
“Prioritizing efficiency and implementing their priorities is an important goal for any new administration, and we support thoughtful evaluation of how to streamline programs and staff without compromising essential services and research. We are concerned that this decision will not accomplish that goal. Instead, the recent firings of thousands of staff at HHS will most certainly make it even harder for the agency to do its job. The American people, and the physicians providing their care, will pay the price.
“We urge HHS to pause these drastic reductions and work with Congress and other stakeholders to thoughtfully plan how to support the HHS mission to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans.”
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About the American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. www.aap.org
About the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is the nation’s leading group of physicians providing evidence-based obstetric and gynecologic care. As a private, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization of more than 60,000 members, ACOG strongly advocates for equitable, exceptional, and respectful care for all women and people in need of obstetric and gynecologic care; maintains the highest standards of clinical practice and continuing education of its members; promotes patient education; and increases awareness among its members and the public of the changing issues facing patients and their families and communities. acog.org
About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 172 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 161,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn.
Media contacts:
AAP: Devin Mazziotti (dmazziotti@aap.org)
ACOG: Kate Connors (kconnors@acog.org)
ACP: Jacquelyn Blaser (jblaser@acponline.org)