Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that about 41% of its employees may be furloughed because of the 2025 federal government shutdown. This major cut in staff could slow down or disrupt several important healthcare programs. The figure was first reported in a Reuters article published September 29, 2025, which highlighted the scale of the impact across federal health agencies.

HHS says it has a plan to keep the most critical services running. Emergency care, patient safety programs, and Medicare claim processing will continue. But many other services, such as grant management, public health reporting, and compliance reviews, may be delayed or paused until funding is restored.

For providers, this could mean slower responses from federal programs, longer wait times for claim reviews, and possible delays in non-urgent communications with CMS and other health agencies.

This is one of the largest furloughs in HHS history, showing just how much a government shutdown can affect healthcare. Even if the shutdown only lasts a short time, experts warn the backlog of work could take months to clear. That would create more challenges for providers, billing teams, and public health organizations that depend on federal support.

Essential workers will remain on the job, but without pay until Congress reaches a funding deal. Non-essential employees will be placed on unpaid leave until the shutdown ends. With no clear resolution in sight, healthcare leaders are preparing for significant operational and financial challenges.

As reported in Reuters, the furlough poses a serious disruption for one of the largest federal departments, which serves millions of Americans. Providers and health systems are being advised to expect delays in claims processing, program updates, and other non-critical federal services.