1. United States
2. Colo.
3. Letter

Safeguarding the health and well-being of the workforce at US health agencies is paramount. The proposed mass layoffs will severely undermine our ability to respond to public health emergencies, conduct vital medical research, and ensure the safety of food and medicine. This reckless action jeopardizes lives and leaves the nation vulnerable. I urge you to reconsider these drastic cuts that decimate institutional knowledge and expertise across the Department of Health and Human Services. Protecting public health requires maintaining a robust and experienced workforce dedicated to disease surveillance, outbreak response, and upholding rigorous safety standards. The American people's health and safety should take priority over political ideology. The decision to terminate thousands of highly skilled professionals is short-sighted and hazardous. I implore you to reverse course and rebuild the staffing levels necessary to fulfill HHS's critical mission effectively. Failing to do so risks crippling our ability to combat health threats and compromises the country's preparedness, ultimately putting countless lives at risk. The consequences could be catastrophic and lasting.