HHS Layoff Scandal: Is Brad Smith Playing Favorites with CMS?

Brad Smith, the HHS DOGE lead, is embroiled in a juicy controversy over a delayed plan to axe 10,000 jobs at the Department of Health and Human Services.
The goal? Slash 20% of the workforce, saving $1.8 billion yearly. But insiders say Smith’s secretive moves—shielding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)—sparked chaos.

Critics slam Smith and aide Rachel Riley for hiding data, leaving department heads blindsided by news leaks. HHS Chief of Staff Heather Flick paused the layoffs for a data check, amid claims of uneven cuts.
Why protect CMS? Smith’s past—leading its Innovation arm and founding CMS-regulated firms like Main Street Health—hints at conflicts of interest.

The fallout? CMS canceled staff meetings, and as of April 1, 2025, no new timeline exists. RIF notices could drop soon, but the mess exposes cracks in Trump’s efficiency push.
This under-the-radar saga blends transparency woes and insider favoritism.