By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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FRIDAY, April 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) \u2014 A federal team responsible for setting poverty guidelines that determine who qualifies for health and food assistance has been fired, according to former employees.<\/p>\n
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) laid off the small group of data experts who worked on the technical data essential to the guidelines, which help decide eligibility for programs like Medicaid, food assistance, and child care.<\/p>\n
Among those let go was Kendall Swenson, who led the annual update of the poverty guidelines. Former co-workers say he had deep knowledge of the entire process.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re thinking of someone you fired who should be rehired, Swenson would be a no-brainer,\u201d Timothy Smeeding<\/a>, an economics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told CNN<\/em>.<\/p>\n Each year, HHS is required to adjust the poverty figures from the U.S. Census Bureau for inflation. These updated numbers help set income limits for various government programs. In 2025, the poverty level is $15,650 for a single person and $32,150 for a family of four, CNN <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n Now the process is in jeopardy.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s literally no one in the government who knows how to calculate the guidelines,” said Robin Ghertner<\/a>, former head of the data team, who was part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). “And because we\u2019re all locked out of our computers, we can\u2019t teach anyone how to calculate them.”<\/p>\n Further, if HHS fails to issue new guidelines in 2026, people could lose benefits even as their cost of living rises.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you make $30,000 and have three kids, say, and next year you make $31,000 but prices have gone up 7%, suddenly your $31,000 doesn\u2019t buy you the same,\u201d Ghertner said to CNN<\/em>, \u201cbut if the guidelines haven\u2019t increased, you might be no longer eligible for Medicaid.\u201d<\/p>\n About 79 million people are enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which both rely on these guidelines.<\/p>\n The staff cuts were part of a larger push by the Trump administration to reduce the size of government. HHS said it had eliminated about 10,000 jobs<\/a> and even recommended early retirements, shrinking its workforce by around 20,000.<\/p>\n \u201cThese HHS staffing cuts \u2014 20,000 \u2014 obviously they are completely nuts,\u201d Wendell Primus<\/a>, who worked at the ASPE during the Clinton administration, told CNN<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cThese were not decisions made by Kennedy or staff at HHS. They are being made at the White House. There\u2019s no rhyme or reasons to what they\u2019re doing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon<\/a> said the work would continue, despite the firings.<\/p>\n \u201cThe idea that this will come to a halt is totally incorrect,\u201d he said. \u201cEighty million people will not be affected.\u201d<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n Government Executive has more about federal government layoffs<\/a>.<\/p>\n