Service Employees International Union (SEIU) president April Verrett issued the following statement in response to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announcement that it will cut as many as 10,000 jobs to comply with President Trump’s executive order to shrink federal government:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – “From Day One, this administration has continuously attacked the care and services every American relies on, to fund tax breaks for big corporations. Slashing 10,000 jobs that support critical services across HHS will further undermine the mission of the Department to ensure the health of the nation. SEIU members working in hospitals, nursing homes, and in-home care are concerned this will jeopardize their ability to deliver quality care.

This massive layoff, which includes staff at the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, comes as we’re experiencing a surge in measles cases and an ongoing Bird Flu epidemic. It will create a huge roadblock to efficient implementation of Medicaid, Medicare, community health centers, child care and other vital programs. The elimination of the Administration for Community Living, which coordinates programs for seniors and people with disabilities, will make it more difficult to sustain community-based programs and the workforce that supports them.

Working people can see right through this administration’s actions. It’s clear that children, seniors, and people with disabilities rank last in their eyes. This is not about efficiency, it’s the blueprint for Making America Sick Again.”

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