Hoyer Statement on Trump's Mass Dismissal of Federal Employees at HHS

WASHINGTON, DC –  Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today regarding President Donald Trump's mass dismissal of thousands of federal employees at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

"Donald Trump's mass purge of staff at the Department of Health and Human Services today is outrageous, inhumane, and obscene. It is not an improvement to government efficiency; it is the wholesale destruction of government. Neither Elon Musk nor his minions have any idea of the consequences of their actions because they do not give them any forethought. In this case, those consequences will be measured in American lives lost.

"The patriots who work at HHS devote their careers to keeping the American people healthy. They are inspectors who ensure our food and medicine is safe to consume; scientists and researchers who track, treat, and cure dangerous diseases; health care professionals who help Americans access Medicare and Medicaid; mental health and addiction specialists; and so much more. This administration has deemed them all 'villains' – to quote Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought.

"We ought to attract the best and brightest to protect the health of the American people. These mass layoffs are wiping out a generation of top talent, however. Many of these employees are on the brink of breakthroughs on various diseases and treatments. Firing them – and rescinding vital funds for these programs – puts an abrupt stop to this work. Every day that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advances his extreme anti-science agenda further undermines the current and future health and economic prosperity of our nation.

"These actions are almost certainly illegal. I believe our courts will arrive at that same conclusion, as they have so many times with this administration's actions over the past few months. The Congress owes it to the Constitution, to the Founders, and to the American people to exercise the power of the People’s House. We make the law, not the president. The Trump Administration’s disregard for the separation of powers and our system of checks and balances threatens to destroy our democracy.”