HHS warns of major furloughs as shutdown threat looms

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has warned that more than 32,000 of its staff could be furloughed if Congress fails to avert a federal government shutdown this week, raising the risk of disruption across public health and medical research.

The contingency plan, covering 41% of the 79,717-strong workforce, would spare high-profile services such as Medicare, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act programs, and Food and Drug Administration drug approvals. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention faces losing nearly two-thirds of its personnel, stalling communication with state health departments on crises such as opioid overdoses, HIV, and diabetes prevention. The National Institutes of Health would be forced to furlough three-quarters of its staff, halting grant reviews, advisory council meetings, and most laboratory work.

HHS said the Clinical Center at NIH could only admit new patients where medically necessary. Contractor oversight, public health messaging, and guidance for local officials would also be sharply curtailed. By contrast, the FDA expects to retain 86% of its employees, while the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would keep just over half its workforce.