The Trump administration’s overhaul of federal health agencies has sparked fierce debate. MAHA senior advisor Calley Means defended deep cuts to Health and Human Services (HHS) staffing, calling the bureaucracy an “utter failure.” Critics claim the layoffs threaten public health, but Means argued they’re needed to fix a broken system that’s let Americans down.
Means slammed the current state of U.S. healthcare, pointing to skyrocketing rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Despite spending four times more per person than countries like Italy, Americans live shorter lives. “Where’s the great benefit?” he asked, blaming bureaucrats for wasting money while kids get sicker.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has slashed nearly $9 billion in HHS grants, trimming what Means called “bloated” programs. He argued that firing ineffective staff allows hiring real scientists to tackle root causes of illness. “Why keep funding failure?” he said, dismissing outcry from career officials as resistance to accountability.
Mainstream media and Democrats attacked the cuts as “anti-science,” but Means fired back. He accused networks like CNBC of running “pharma infomercials” instead of covering issues like mental health. Democratic lawmakers were labeled “paid-off” allies of drug companies, with Means noting Congressman Jake Auchincloss’s pharma donations.
VA Secretary Doug Collins highlighted new clinics opening nationwide, proof cuts haven’t hurt services. Four facilities launched in two months serve over 35,000 veterans yearly. Critics warned of wait times and care cuts, but Collins called these claims “fake news” pushed by unions and liberal politicians.
Public health groups threatened lawsuits, claiming the cuts endanger disease tracking. A measles outbreak, they warn, could go undetected without enough staff. But Means mocked these fears, asking why bureaucrats deserve trust after decades of failing to curb chronic diseases.
The administration vows to redirect savings to “real science,” like studying why kids develop cancer and diabetes. NIH funding will shift from drug company subsidies to independent research. “We’re putting patients over paperwork,” Means said, praising hires like Dr. Oz to lead reforms.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces fierce backlash for firing 10,000 staffers. Means called it a crucial step to dismantle a “sickcare system” that profits from illness. “MAGA moms demand change,” he said, accusing holdouts of caring more about jobs than children’s health.
Trump officials frame the cuts as draining the swamp to rescue American health. While opponents scream “quackery,” the administration insists only bold action can reverse decades of decline. “Experts had their chance,” Means said. “Now it’s time for common sense.”
