Impact of Cuts to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Program Staff on Children, Families, and Older Adults

As an organization dedicated to improving the lives of older and younger people, Generations United expresses alarm and deep concern over the recent proposed restructuring of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and enacted cuts to HHS staff. These reductions will have devastating effects on children, families, and older adults across the nation, threatening the fundamental support systems that millions of people rely on for their health, well-being, and economic stability.

HHS plays a critical role in delivering essential services through programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, Older Americans Act programs, and Child and Adult Protective Services. These programs provide life-saving support to the most vulnerable members of our society — children, older adults, grandparents and other relative caregivers, and low-income families. Staff cuts within HHS and its administering agencies harm the department’s ability to efficiently and effectively deliver these services and conduct the vital oversight needed to protect these populations.

Impact on Children and Families:

Programs like Head Start and Early Head Start provide early childhood education, health screenings, and nutrition, all of which are crucial for fostering the development of young children. Cuts to HHS staff and the closure of regional offices threaten the administration of these programs and risk delays in services, which can have long-term consequences on the cognitive, emotional, and social development of children and youth. Reductions in HHS staff undermine the ability of programs like Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) to respond to the needs of families who are already facing significant challenges.

Impact on Older Adults:

Plans to restructure HHS include the dismantling of the Administration for Community Living (ACL), which administers Older Americans Act programs and other critical services for older adults and people with disabilities. Staff cuts and the elimination of ACL threaten to reduce the availability and quality of services that older adults depend on, including meal programs, caregiving support for grandparents and other relative caregivers, and critical medical care. These reductions risk exacerbating existing issues related to elder abuse, neglect, and access to necessary services for individuals with disabilities or chronic health conditions.

We call on Congress, the administration, and advocates to take immediate action to reverse these cuts and ensure that the Department of Health and Human Services and its agencies have the necessary resources to effectively support children, families, and older adults and the programs that they rely on.

These programs are not safety nets — they are lifelines. Gutting the capacity of HHS to serve our oldest, youngest and most vulnerable populations- is an unacceptable risk that undermines our nation’s commitment to health, dignity, opportunity, and prosperity for all.

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