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Gillibrand Demands Answers After HRSA Layoffs Threaten Vital Health Services

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U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is demanding answers from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) following the sudden termination of hundreds of federal employees at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) — the agency that delivers health care to millions of underserved Americans.

In a letter sent Friday to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Gillibrand and ten other senators warned that these mass firings could destabilize critical services, from rural health clinics to maternal mental health hotlines.

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Thousands of HRSA Programs at Risk in New York

New York alone hosts over 4,300 HRSA-funded health care delivery sites. In fiscal year 2025 so far, the agency has awarded more than $256 million to support these locations and their programs.

That funding helps power:

  • Clinics in rural and underserved communities
  • Maternal health and early childhood initiatives
  • Services for HIV/AIDS, cancer screenings, and substance abuse treatment
  • Workforce training for doctors, nurses, and behavioral health professionals

Gillibrand said these programs — especially in high-need areas — face serious jeopardy.

“By indiscriminately firing these employees, the Trump administration is jeopardizing access to these vital services and threatening programs that help keep New Yorkers healthy,” she said.

Maternal Mental Health Hotline in Jeopardy

The layoffs include workers who operate the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, a 24/7 lifeline for women facing postpartum depression, anxiety, or emotional distress. Gillibrand helped establish the hotline in 2022.

Since launch, it has handled more than 54,000 calls and texts, many from mothers seeking help during or after pregnancy.

“These firings could disrupt an essential support pathway for saving the lives of American moms,” the senators wrote.

Maternal mental health remains the leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the U.S.

Layoffs Linked to Trump’s DOGE Order

The firings stem from Executive Order 14210, part of President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative. The administration claims the order will streamline federal operations, but critics argue it has gutted HRSA teams without planning or oversight.

According to the letter, DOGE’s actions include:

  • Slashing 40% of staff in the Bureau of Primary Health Care
  • Cutting 20% from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau
  • Dismissing grant and hotline staff using spreadsheets
  • Failing to give remaining employees direction on how to fill critical gaps

These divisions serve some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations — including uninsured children, seniors, veterans, and rural families.

Senators Demand Full Accounting by April 21

Gillibrand and her Senate colleagues are demanding a detailed report on who was fired, what duties they handled, and how HHS plans to maintain essential services.

They’re calling for:

  • Job titles, clearance levels, and veteran status of all impacted staff
  • Details about grantee communications and staff transitions
  • Explanations for any funding delays
  • Immediate release of all FY2025 funding opportunity announcements
  • Clear strategies to protect maternal health, primary care, and workforce development

Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Cory Booker, and others joined the letter.

What Comes Next?

The U.S. already faces a severe shortage of primary care workers. Lawmakers argue that these abrupt terminations will worsen the crisis — especially in areas with the greatest health disparities.

“We remain concerned that these indiscriminate firings have destabilized HRSA and reduced the agency’s ability to serve the people who need it most,” the senators wrote.

Secretary Kennedy has until Monday, April 21 at 5 p.m. to respond.

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