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White House Urges Downsizing Amid Controversial Layoff Plans

10/27/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The White House urged agencies to downsize.
The Department of Health and Human Services scaled back its layoff plans to 954 from 8,000 due to a court order and internal pushback.
Emily Hilliard, an HHS spokesperson, said the layoffs targeted non-essential positions.
The National Institutes of Health was set to lose 4,545 employees but fired none.
The process mirrors layoffs under the Trump administration, leaving employees uncertain about their status.

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Story summary

The White House urged agencies to downsize.
The Department of Health and Human Services scaled back its layoff plans to 954 from 8,000 due to a court order and internal pushback.
Emily Hilliard, an HHS spokesperson, said the layoffs targeted non-essential positions.
The National Institutes of Health was set to lose 4,545 employees but fired none.
The process mirrors layoffs under the Trump administration, leaving employees uncertain about their status.