Gutting US health agency will allow for private sector takeover, experts warn

Robert F Kennedy, Trump's health secretary, said he will be laying off nearly 20,000 workers, imperiling crucial services

Massive job cuts planned for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will pave the way for takeover of crucial services by the private sector, imperiling the US in future health emergencies, health experts and Democratic politicians warn.

Health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced the department would layoff 20,000 workers from its roughly 82,000-person workforce on Thursday, or nearly a quarter of the department's headcount.