Kennedy says US health agency has 72,000 staff, up from 62,000 after DOGE cuts

WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of ​Health and ‌Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said ‌on ​Thursday ⁠his department ⁠now has 72,000 employees and is looking ​to hire 12,000 ⁠more to ⁠make up ​for cuts ​led by the Department ‌of Government Efficiency.

The department had ⁠82,000 employees before the DOGE cuts ⁠reduced ‌its workforce ⁠to 62,000 ​employees ‌last year, ​he said.

(Reporting ⁠by Ahmed Aboulenein in Washington; Editing by Chris ​Reese)