Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Mass Layoffs at Department of Health and Human Services
Washington, D.C. (Tuesday, April 1, 2025) — Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding reports of mass layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services:
The mass layoffs throughout the Department of Health and Human Services today show the Trump Administrations’ disdain for America and Americans.
Firing these workers makes us less safe. It will make us sicker. It will make us less competitive in the medical research field. It will make America a worse place to live.
The decision to target minority health research specifically shows the Trump Administration’s hatred for anyone who is not white. We know, objectively, empirically, through established research, that black and brown Americans are more likely to get sick and less likely to recover.
This is a choice to stop the work of preventing the senseless deaths of millions of Americans. Just as this Administration sought to cut off lifesaving aid to children in countries with large nonwhite populations around the world, now they are cutting off medical support for black and brown people at home.
Removing skilled, experienced, highly trained, deeply motivated medical professionals from their jobs will not save the country money in the long run. The money they claim to be saving will be more than offset by half a year’s worth of golfing at Mar-a-Lago. It’s dwarfed by the billions in government contracts that Elon Musk is funneling to his own business ventures.
This decision is utterly shameful and harmful. It will do nothing but cause more suffering. I cannot condemn this decision in strong enough terms. It is despicable.