South Gwinnett News

Congresswoman Lucy McBath has voiced strong opposition to the proposed reductions at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a formal letter addressed to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy. The proposed cuts would result in the loss of 10,000 jobs and the restructuring of multiple health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The HHS plays a crucial role in safeguarding American health and provides essential services and resources like Medicare and Medicaid, as well as food and drug safety oversight.

The job cuts involve 3,500 positions at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 2,400 jobs at the CDC, 1,200 at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and 300 roles at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Lawmakers are calling for these cuts and agency dismantling efforts to be reversed.

In their letter, the lawmakers expressed their lack of confidence in the benefits of these cuts for Americans, warning of potential delays in services, approvals, and research, along with weakened public health response capabilities. They emphasized the importance of HHS's services, noting the significant impact any service delays could have on marginalized populations.

The letter highlights concerns over healthcare disparities, particularly among Black and brown communities. “As Black and brown communities continue to face severe healthcare disparities, it is crucial that access to affordable healthcare is not reduced in any way, but rather prioritized and improved, and research is undertaken to develop tailored solutions to these problems," the lawmakers wrote. They underlined the necessity of preserving access to healthcare services pertinent to women, LGBTQ+ communities, and people of color.

The lawmakers additionally criticized the Trump Administration's plans to weaken civil rights protections and reduce funding for social programs. "Given the Trump Administration’s broad intentions to eviscerate civil rights protections to harm Black and brown communities, as well as proposals to slash funding for social safety net programs, we have no faith that this restructure will result in improved protections for our constituents’ civil rights or their hard-earned and critically needed medical coverage," they declared.

The letter was endorsed by a group of Democratic representatives, including Reps. Nikema Williams, Donald Beyer, Salud Carbajal, Emanuel Cleaver, and many others, totaling over 25 signatories. Their collective signature underscores the urgent concern shared by numerous lawmakers over the proposed restructuring and its potential consequences.