Kennedy announced in a statement that he plans to downsize the department, which is responsible for monitoring global trends and disease outbreaks, as well as conducting medical research and housing the Food and Drug Administration and federal health insurance programs.
He plans to halve the number of regional offices, like San Francisco’s, and decrease the number of divisions within the agency.
Notably, the new “Administration for a Healthy America” would merge the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry with three other agencies to “improve coordination of health resources for low income Americans.”
Pelosi said she and other Congress members were “examining all possible avenues to fight back against these irresponsible cuts,” saying that the decision is “shortsighted” and will slow down services for San Franciscans.
“Make no mistake: the reported plans to restructure HHS and close the San Francisco regional office would directly harm our most vulnerable communities and make America sicker,” Pelosi wrote in her statement.
