'US government shutdown to furlough 41% of health agency workers'

 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to furlough 41% of its workforce if Congress fails to prevent a looming government shutdown, suspending critical functions including public health messaging, contractor oversight, and medical research.

Of the department's 79,717 employees, 32,460 are expected to be furloughed under the contingency staffing plan it released over the weekend. Programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act marketplace, and Food and Drug Administration drug approvals will continue but other public health functions face significant disruptions.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-government-shutdown-furlough-41-health-agency-workers-2025-09-29/