Finance Committee presses HHS nominees on agency reorganization, staff cuts and program disruptions

Jim O'Neil and Gary Andres faced sustained questions from the Senate Finance Committee on whether the Department of Health and Human Services' reorganization and reductions in force have impaired essential public-health functions.

Committee members led by Ranking Member Ron Wyden and several Democrats said recent personnel cuts have left gaps in programs from CDC research to local assistance programs. Senators pressed both nominees on whether they would restore disrupted programs and provide timely responses to congressional oversight requests.

The exchange mattered because HHS runs programs that serve seniors, children, emergency responders and public-health surveillance; senators warned that staffing decisions and paused programs risk public-health consequences and reduce congressional oversight.

Wyden cited reported department losses and program impacts as he introduced the hearing and questioned the nominees' alignment with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s approach. Wyden said, "Over the past several weeks, Health and Human Services has lost 20,000 workers" and described program reductions ranging from cancer researchers to Meals on Wheels support. He asked whether O'Neil would be a "yes man" for current leadership; Wyden pressed for clarity about nominees' positions on budget and program priorities.

O'Neil, a nominee for deputy secretary who previously served at HHS and as CEO of SENS Research Foundation, said he did not participate in the staffing and budget decisions but repeatedly pledged to preserve essential statutory functions and to correct mistakes if confirmed. "If the department has made a mistake, it should correct the mistake promptly," O'Neil told Senator Grassley. He added that his understanding of the secretary's reorganization was that "the essential functions of the department should be preserved" and that combining duplicative functions can be appropriate.

Gary Andres, the nominee for the department's congressional liaison role, told senators he would be "more available and present myself up here on Capitol Hill" and pledged responsiveness to congressional inquiries. In response to concerns about delayed answers to written questions, Andres said, "I do commit that I will... be as responsive and accountable and timely and transparent as possible."

Senators detailed specific program disruptions. Senator Maggie Hassan said the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer is "at a complete standstill," quoting the registry's notice that enrollment and research were halted after a reduction in force at NIOSH. Senator Patty Murray and others raised LIHEAP, noting temporary staff losses that administer heating-assistance funds for low-income households. Senator Wyden and others discussed Head Start and asked O'Neil whether he supported the program; O'Neil said he had worked with Head Start previously and considered it essential but that he had not been involved in any recent decisions to reduce it.

Other lawmakers pressed on additional priorities that would fall under deputy-secretary or liaison responsibilities if the nominees are confirmed: PBM and drug-supply transparency, rural health, organ transplant system management, foster care services, cybersecurity for health data, and NIH-funded research. On NIH funding and a proposed $18 billion reduction cited by Senator Campbell, O'Neil said he had not been involved in the budget's development and emphasized support for "gold standard research" and ensuring funding supports replicable science.

No formal committee actions or votes occurred during the hearing; senators left the record open for follow-up questions. The committee's chair reminded members to submit any questions for the record by the committee deadline.

If confirmed, the nominees will join an agency at the center of debate about program continuity, transparency to Congress, and how to preserve statutory functions while pursuing organizational changes. Senators signaled they expect written follow-ups and oversight on specific program restorations and staffing decisions.

Ending: The committee paused the hearing pending additional questions and scheduled a vote in committee on the nominations; senators said they would monitor responses to letters and requests for records.