In a move to enhance efficiency and reduce taxpayer burden, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has implemented workforce adjustments within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). On Friday, approximately 3,600 probationary employees were let go, resulting in projected annual savings of $600 million. Importantly, the process was carefully managed to retain employees in specialized or critical roles, with over half of the probationary workforce remaining.

Exemptions from the workforce reduction included personnel involved in refugee and resettlement efforts within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), emergency preparedness and response across various HHS divisions like the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), researchers at the CDC and National Institutes of Health (NIH), frontline healthcare providers at the Indian Health Service (IHS), Medicare and Medicaid staff at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and employees engaged in drug review, approvals, and inspections at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

DOGE's approach to identifying essential employees involved a multi-faceted evaluation. Key functions of HHS, such as frontline healthcare provision, scientific research, and emergency response, were prioritized. Individual roles were also scrutinized, incorporating work history, background, and job title assessments. In situations requiring further clarification, DOGE collaborated with individuals possessing direct knowledge of employee responsibilities or divisional operations.

While the specific procedures may vary across federal agencies, DOGE consistently considers key functions, specialized responsibilities, and individual roles in its workforce analyses. HHS, particularly the CDC, received meticulous attention, with careful consideration given to research activities, laboratory work, and outbreak monitoring and response. Officials emphasized that DOGE avoids pre-determined cost-cutting targets and that agencies are not evaluated in a prescribed order. Instead, the focus remains on enhancing government efficiency while preserving essential functions.

Furthermore, DOGE is exploring various financial mechanisms employed by the federal government, including contracts, grants, and regulations, to further optimize resource allocation.