On Thursday, March 27, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a mass-scale reduction in workforce and restructuring. The workforce reduction outlined in the HHS announcement would decrease HHS staff by approximately 10,000 employees. This reduction would come at a time when the department has already dismissed or retired an additional 10,000 employees since President Trump has taken office.
Additionally, the announcement speaks of an intention to restructure HHS in a manner that would eradicate nearly half of the department’s divisions, taking the department’s current number of divisions from 28 to 15. Several of the divisions slated for dismissal administer programs and services related to Medicaid, Medicare, mental health supports, senior services, other disability services and much more.
Perhaps most alarming, HHS’ announcement indicates their plans to dismantle the Administration on Community Living (ACL). ACL, founded in 2012, has greatly improved health outcomes and independence for seniors and the disability community. ACL serves as a centralized location to house various aging and disability-related programs and services. Additionally, ACL raises critical awareness of the need for community-based options for those who otherwise might be vulnerable to unnecessary institutionalization and other forms of congregate care.
The Administration on Community Living directs the network of over 500 Centers for Independent Living (CILs) nationwide. These CILs, including Ability360, act as vital catalysts towards increasing the independence and community inclusion for millions of Americans with disabilities and members of the aging community,” Ability360 President & CEO Chris Rodriguez said. “The dismantling and eradication of ACL would undoubtedly have significantly negative effects on these individuals.”
While HHS does make mention of relocating certain ACL related programs and services, it still remains unclear on how this will be done and specifically where each program would be relocated.
Regardless of the relocation of ACL programs, Ability360 adamantly opposes this restructuring and calls on all advocates to take action and speak out against this attack on ACL and the programs that help millions of Americans with disabilities and seniors gain, and maintain, maximum independence in the community.
Take action! Congress must act on this clear attack on crucial disability programs. We urge you to contact your Congressional Representative and Senators and ask that they raise their voice in this critical moment.
- Find your Member of Congress using this link to House.gov.
- Contact U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego.