As President Donald Trump directs cuts of tens of thousands of federal authorities staff, amongst these laid off at America’s well being companies are employees at a Nationwide Institutes of Well being division targeted on dementia analysis, together with its incoming chief, three individuals aware of the terminations instructed ABC Information.
The firings on the Heart for Alzheimer’s and Associated Dementias (CARD) affected roughly a tenth of the practically 100 staff on the middle, however in interviews with ABC Information, employees there described a rigorously woven net of collaboration that they are saying could possibly be threatened by the layoffs of only a handful of staff, warning that it might jeopardize progress in answering key questions on dementia.
Most surprising to CARD employees was the termination of lead researcher Kendall Van Keuren-Jensen, who was introduced internally because the group’s subsequent appearing director and was anticipated to deliver important developments to the analysis area.
“It is simply jaw-dropping,” an upper-level CARD worker instructed ABC Information of Van Keuren-Jensen’s firing.
ABC Information reached out to Van Keuren-Jensen, who declined to remark.
On this Sept. 12, 2020, file photograph, the primary historic constructing (Constructing 1) of the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH) is proven on the grounds of the NIH campus in Bethesda, Md.
Getty Pictures, FILE
The layoffs at CARD have been first reported by the New Republic.
Neurologists say the downsizing at CARD could possibly be a blow to the scientific quest for brand new Alzheimer’s therapies. NIH scientists at CARD work with exterior scientists to show early scientific discoveries into therapies and medicines.
The middle additionally had important bipartisan help. It was named after Sen. Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican who’s been a champion for dementia analysis funding.
Almost 7 million individuals in the US reside with Alzheimer’s illness, in accordance with the Alzheimer’s Affiliation. There isn’t a remedy, and present therapies solely assist relieve signs or decelerate illness development.
One laid-off CARD employee instructed ABC Information {that a} termination letter, acquired on Feb. 15 from an NIH human sources official, cited the employee’s efficiency, despite the fact that the employee instructed ABC Information that their managers had assured them their efficiency was not a problem.
Medical researchers from numerous universities and the Nationwide Institutes of Well being rally at Well being and Human Companies headquarters to protest federal price range cuts, Feb. 19, 2025, in Washington.
John Mcdonnell/AP
One other CARD worker dismissed the concept that the layoffs have been associated to efficiency.
“[One colleague] not too long ago printed a first-author paper in a excessive affect journal and so they have been terminated for poor efficiency, and I mentioned, are you kidding me?” they instructed ABC Information.
The outgoing director, Andrew Singleton, instructed colleagues in an e mail that the layoffs would “have a profound affect on the work we do to grasp and deal with illness,” in accordance with one CARD worker.
Singleton didn’t reply to a request for remark from ABC Information.
A spokesperson from the Division of Well being and Human Companies didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Karoline Leavitt, the White Home press secretary, mentioned in regards to the layoffs throughout federal companies, “There must be no secret about the truth that this administration is dedicated to slicing waste, fraud and abuse. The president campaigned on that course of campaigned on that promise. People elected him on that promise, and he is truly delivering on it. And that is one thing that Democrats promised they’d do for many years. President Trump is simply the primary president to get it executed.”
Newly confirmed Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advocated vast shakeups on the division, particularly laying out plans on the marketing campaign path to chop a whole lot from the NIH, which he mentioned ought to shift its focus away from infectious illnesses towards persistent illnesses.
“We have to act quick, and we wish to have these individuals in place on Jan. 20 in order that on Jan. 21, 600 persons are going to stroll into workplaces at NIH and 600 persons are going to depart,” Kennedy mentioned in November, talking on the Genius Community Annual Occasion in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Well being and Human Companies, testifies throughout his Senate Finance Committee, Jan. 29, 2025.
Win McNamee/Getty Pictures
The firings on the Alzheimer’s analysis middle comes amid a flurry of different modifications to the federal government’s well being companies, together with round 700 terminations on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and at the least 90 extra at the Food and Drug Administration of people that labored on vitamin, meals security and regulating toddler formulation, in accordance with a number of officers on the companies. There have additionally been cuts to different components of HHS, together with the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.
Almost all of the staffers manning vaccines.gov, the web site that helps individuals discover vaccines of their space, have been let go as effectively, an official who oversees the positioning mentioned.
One senior Trump administration official instructed Fox News Digital the HHS “departures” have been estimated to be 6,000 individuals, whereas other shops have estimated 3,600 have been lower. When requested by ABC Information in regards to the quantity, HHS would not affirm the small print.
Moreover, a media marketing campaign encouraging individuals to get their flu pictures was faraway from CDC’s web site.
