RIF separation letters go out to HHS employees after Supreme Court order

Many Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employees who were placed on administrative leave as part of the Trump administration’s reduction-in-force (RIF) actions earlier this year were officially laid off on 14 July.

The RIF has been challenged in the courts, but a Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling last week lifted an injunction that cleared a path for the administration to proceed with the firings, according to an HHS email obtained by Focus.

At around 5 p.m. EDT, numerous HHS employees who were placed on administrative leave as part of the RIF in April were emailed notifying them that their separation from the agency is now official, including some US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) staff.

“On July 8, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the Government's Application to Stay the preliminary injunction, issued on May 22, 2025, by Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 25-Cv-03698-Sl), which, at that time, prohibited HHS from further action on any existing RIF notices, including final separation of employees,” said the email. “Given the Supreme Court's ruling, HHS is now permitted to move forward with a portion of its RIF.

“Accordingly, you are hereby notified that you are officially separated from HHS at the close of business on July 14, 2025,” the email added. “Thank you for your service to the American people.”

It is unclear how many employees were fired as part of the 1 April RIF, though initial estimates pegged the figure at around 10,000 HHS employees, of which approximately 3,500 were estimated to be FDA workers. It is also unclear, at the time of publication, how many of those placed on administrative leave were notified about their separation on Monday. (RELATED: Thousands of FDA staff fired in latest RIF, Regulatory Focus, 1 April)

Despite the issuance of the separation notices, it is unclear how the legal fight over the RIF will unfold, as federal employee unions and individual staff continue their legal challenges against the restructurings. Additionally, the Supreme Court order only lifted a stay by the Northern District of California case; that case is still underway.

The separation notices come just days after FDA told staff it will only provide bonus compensation for the 2024 performance period to “employees who are not scheduled to separate, via voluntary or involuntary program,” according to a 9 July email reviewed by Focus. (RELATED: Sources: FDA won’t pay bonuses to RIFed, similar employees, Regulatory Focus, 10 July 2025)

RIF separation letters go out to HHS employees after Supreme Court order

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