The Trump administration has initiated layoffs within the Office of Population Affairs (OPA) amidst a government shutdown orchestrated by Democrats, a decision that has been described as a significant blow to the agency under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as reported by The New York Times.
The OPA, an institution with a history spanning over five decades, addresses issues related to reproductive and adolescent health, including teen pregnancy, family planning, and sterilization. Under the previous Biden administration, the OPA was notably utilized to advance abortion services through the Title X family planning program and to support sex changes for minors.
According to Breitbart, nearly all OPA employees found themselves locked out of their government emails and computers, a situation confirmed by anonymous staff members who spoke to The Times. By mid-week, those inquiring about their job status were informed by human resources that their email access had been revoked due to their impending layoffs, a process referred to as a "reduction in force."
Despite a federal judge's temporary injunction against widespread layoffs during the shutdown, the scope of the order's protection remained uncertain.
HHS Press Secretary Emily Hilliard, in a statement to Breitbart News, clarified that all HHS employees receiving layoff notices were deemed non-essential by their respective divisions. Meanwhile, advocates for reproductive health, often synonymous with abortion rights activists, expressed concern to The Times that dismantling the OPA would strip women of essential services that empower them to make informed decisions about childbearing.
Jessica Marcella, who previously served as the deputy assistant secretary for population affairs under the Biden administration, warned, "The high-quality, confidential care they have relied on may disappear overnight. If theres no one there to run it, then functionally the program ceases to exist."
Nevertheless, insiders informed Breitbart News that OPA programs are expected to persist. The Times noted that the Trump administration had previously suggested the complete elimination of the Title X program in its 2026 proposal.
For now, the office has been redirected to prioritize infertility issues as a response to the nation's declining birthrate. Sources familiar with these infertility initiatives anticipate that the Trump administration will continue these efforts through a different office, underscoring a shift in focus towards bolstering the U.S. birthrate.
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