Policy Watch: HHS Reorganization and Scholarship Openings

On Thursday, March 27, Secretary Kennedy announced a large-scale reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services. Key components of this reorganization include a reduction in the total workforce from 82,000 to 62,000 employees and a consolidation of 28 Agency divisions into 15 news divisions, including the creation of the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA).

Additional changes include:

• The merging of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) into the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA).
• Merging the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) into the new Office of Strategy.
• Creation of a new Assistant Secretary for Enforcement to oversee the Departmental Appeals Board (DAB), Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA), and Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in federal health programs.

AACN will continue to monitor the status of the reorganization and provide updates as new information becomes available.

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Policy Updates:

• The 2025 Nurse Corps Scholarship application cycle is now open through April 24.
• HRSA's 2025 Nurse Corps Loan Repayment application cycle is open through April 17.
• Department of Education Opens Revised Income-Driven Repayment Plan and Loan Consolidation Applications for Borrowers.

View all updates from Policy Watch