Statement by the American Nurses Association on organizational restructuring within the US Department of Health and Human Services
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The American Nurses Association is aware of the recent personnel changes and organizational restructuring within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These developments have sparked concerns among nurses nationwide regarding the potential impact on essential programs and services delivered by HHS in collaboration with nurses, patient advocates, and other healthcare providers.
While we share some of those concerns particularly about the consolidation of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), we note that the Trump Administration has indicated that key services, roles, and resources within the restructured agencies will continue to be met by other agencies and staff. The association will monitor that re-structured capacity and promptly report any gaps we identify to the Administration and Congress to ensure the needs of nurses, and the public are met by our federal partners.
It is imperative that Secretary Kennedy and Administration leaders ensure the uninterrupted continuation of the vital work of these agencies. Federal agencies must have the necessary staff to carry out the public health, research, quality, and operational work that the American people rely on for their health and well-being. The American Nurses Association appreciates the recognition that some programs and staff that are critical to the American public were terminated in error and that reinstatement will occur. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) programs that conduct surveillance and monitoring of outbreaks and disease, vaccine education and uptake, environmental contaminants and other public health and safety support remain essential to public health, especially during bird flu and measles outbreaks in various parts of the country. Nurses rely on staff and programs across HHS at CDC, SAMHSA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Health Services, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the National Institutes of health (NIH), and the National institute of Nursing Research (NINR), to improve healthcare delivery and advance the science of healing and care.
As America’s most trusted profession, nurses are concerned about the ability of the restructured HHS to meet the many demanding needs of healthcare consumers. We are actively reaching out to members who engage with HHS agencies related to research, quality, occupational safety, mental health, substance abuse, and public health to help us identify any gaps in services, resources, and supports available under the new structure that we can share with the agencies, Administration and Congress.
The American Nurses Association is encouraged that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) saw few layoffs and that our valued federal partners remain engaged in their important work. Similarly, we note that the funding for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) remains intact, as does the organizational structure of the Institute, which is critical for ensuring that nursing and our overall healthcare system continues to be driven by evidence and guided by federally funded research through NINR. Nursing research from nurse scientists impacts patients and clinicians across the health spectrum and helps ensure the delivery of patient-centered, quality care meets the needs of patients as effectively and efficiently as possible.
The American Nurses Association encourages HHS leadership and the Administration to engage nursing leaders as trusted experts and partners in public health. The association stands ready to collaborate on efforts that expand access to quality care and to improve understanding of patient needs through ongoing nursing research funded across NIH, particularly within NINR. Nurses are our largest health care profession and have an ethical obligation to advocate for their patients' needs.
We support efforts to promote efficiency and streamline operations, but we also demand that the key work of the agencies continue and that public health infrastructure that drives the health of the country be strengthened to better meet the needs of all people living in the country. During this time of rapid change, it is critical to ensure that the American Nurses Association and the public at large have accurate information about the real impact of policy changes happening at the federal level.
While the current changes introduce uncertainty, our commitment to advocating for the nursing profession and patient care remains unwavering. We are actively assessing the implications, engaging with key stakeholders, and ensuring that nurses' voices are welcomed and heard as we pursue the most strategic path forward that will benefit nurses and patients. We will deliver measured, thoughtful responses as we assess the true impact of the layoffs and reorganization of the massive federal agencies. Simply put, we stand ready to do whatever is in our power to protect the health of the public and safeguard our healthcare system as we leverage the trust the public has placed in us as advocates for better health and care.