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All articles tagged with #hhs

US Barriers Block Direct WHO Talks as Health Leadership Gaps Grow
world1 day ago

US Barriers Block Direct WHO Talks as Health Leadership Gaps Grow

Key US infectious-disease officials are barred from direct communication with the World Health Organization during outbreaks, forcing listening-only participation and routing follow-ups through the Department of Health and Human Services, as leadership vacancies loom at major health agencies. The restrictions come amid hantavirus and Ebola outbreaks and reflect a broader US retreat from global health forums, raising concerns about the speed and coordination of outbreak responses.

via CNN|
#hhs#leadership-vacancies#niaid
politics10 days ago

HHS hinges firings on new at-will civil service category amid 2025 push

Health and Human Services is moving hundreds of senior career staff into a new at-will civil service classification to make it easier to fire them, a shift tied to the Project 2025 agenda backed by Trump allies. Officials say the change boosts accountability for policy-influencing managers, while critics accuse it of purging staff not loyal to the administration. The move is accompanied by reports of layoffs under a separate reduction-in-force at HHS, with the scope still unclear and no loyalty pledge required by the new rule.

via Politico|
#civil-service#hhs#politics
White House scrambles to steady HHS leadership ahead of midterms
politics11 days ago

White House scrambles to steady HHS leadership ahead of midterms

With leadership turmoil at HHS and the exit of FDA head Marty Makary, the White House is moving to nominate a new FDA commissioner and overhaul senior staff, aiming to reset relations with the agency, shift away from vaccine-focused MAHA priorities, and stabilize operations ahead of the November midterms while balancing GOP lawmakers and pharmaceutical industry pressures.

via CNN|
#fda#hhs#maha-movement
politics17 days ago

Ouster Looms as FDA Chief Faces Policy Clashes and White House Push on Vapes

The White House authorized plans to remove FDA Commissioner Marty Makary after a year of clashes with HHS leadership, industry groups, and policy fights such as fruit-flavored vaping pods; despite earlier signals of presidential backing, the move gained momentum as replacement candidates emerged and a Senate confirmation would be required for a permanent successor.

via Politico|
#fda#hhs#makary
US Expands Passport Revocation for Unpaid Child Support
politics18 days ago

US Expands Passport Revocation for Unpaid Child Support

Starting Friday, the State Department will revoke the passports of thousands of parents who owe unpaid child support, beginning with those owing $100,000+ (about 2,700 people) and expanding to those with more than $2,500 in arrears under a 1996 law; the aim is to spur payment, with affected individuals able to reapply for a passport once debts are settled, and travelers abroad able to obtain emergency travel documents via U.S. embassies/consulates if needed.

via The Guardian|
#arrears#child-support#hhs
RFK Jr backs plan to curb antidepressants and expand nondrug care
health20 days ago

RFK Jr backs plan to curb antidepressants and expand nondrug care

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled a federal plan to curb antidepressant prescribing, with the Department of Health and Human Services promoting deprescribing and the use of nonpharmacological treatments (psychotherapy, diet, exercise, social connection) when appropriate. The plan includes provider guidance and reimbursements for deprescribing, while the APA welcomed the focus but warned that deprescribing alone won't fix access and workforce gaps in mental health care. A 2025 survey found ~17% of Americans use antidepressants, and Kennedy has claimed—without evidence—that SSRIs contribute to school shootings.

via The Guardian|
#antidepressants#deprescribing#health
FDA pulls back vaccine-safety studies amid political pressure controversy
health20 days ago

FDA pulls back vaccine-safety studies amid political pressure controversy

The FDA reportedly withdrew several studies supporting the safety of COVID-19 and Shingrix vaccines after officials said the authors drew broad conclusions not supported by the data, a move CNBC linked to ongoing Trump-era efforts to scrutinize vaccines; agency scientists analyzed large datasets to assess side effects and said the withdrawal was to protect scientific integrity.

via CNBC|
#covid-19#fda#health
Autism policy turmoil under RFK Jr. prompts calls for congressional oversight and possible impeachment
politics23 days ago

Autism policy turmoil under RFK Jr. prompts calls for congressional oversight and possible impeachment

A new report from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and AAPD accuses HHS leadership under RFK Jr of fueling misinformation about vaccines and autism, citing staff cuts, reduced autism funding, FOIA office closures, and dubious claims about acetaminophen and leucovorin; it notes changes to the autism coordination committee and urges Congress to hold oversight hearings and potentially impeach officials if warranted.

via The Guardian|
#autism#congress-oversight#hhs
Court halts federal bid to ban pediatric gender-affirming care, boosting access
healthcare-policy1 month ago

Court halts federal bid to ban pediatric gender-affirming care, boosting access

A federal judge in Oregon overturned the Trump-era effort to bar gender-affirming care for minors under HHS policies associated with RFK Jr., ruling the move unlawful and blocking similar nationwide enforcement. The decision removes the immediate threat to federal funding and allows many providers to resume care, though state bans and access gaps remain in some areas.

via The Guardian|
#court-ruling#gender-affirming-care#healthcare-policy
HHS blocks publication of study suggesting vaccines reduce hospitalizations and ER visits
health1 month ago

HHS blocks publication of study suggesting vaccines reduce hospitalizations and ER visits

A CDC-led study indicating Covid-19 vaccines roughly halved the chances of hospitalization or ER visits was blocked from publication in the MMWR after concerns from HHS leadership; officials cited methodological worries about the test-negative design, prompting scrutiny from experts who say it’s a standard approach. The episode, tied to broader vaccine-policy changes under HHS Secretary Kennedy, has fueled debate over political influence in CDC science.

via CNN|
#cdc#covid-19#health
politics1 month ago

HHS chief pushes back on Trump's budget cuts, defending Head Start amid debt pressure

At a House Ways and Means hearing, Health Secretary RFK Jr. signaled opposition to sweeping cuts like the proposed 12% reduction to HHS, defending Head Start and other nutrition programs and calling out duplication within the department. The live updates also track GOP fights over a FISA extension, DHS funding and immigration enforcement, and the push to replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell with Kevin Warsh amid ongoing investigations and calls to resolve the Powell probe.

via Politico|
#budget#federal-debt#head-start
RFK Jr. is grilled over vaccines as he pivots to chronic-disease reforms
politics1 month ago

RFK Jr. is grilled over vaccines as he pivots to chronic-disease reforms

During a three-hour House Ways & Means hearing, RFK Jr. faced Democrats who criticized his vaccine stance and handling of the measles outbreak, while he tried to shift the discussion to chronic disease and presented a plan to cut HHS funding by about $16 billion. A judge had previously blocked several of his vaccine-policy changes, and lawmakers debated vaccine safety and autism research as Kennedy pressed a broader health-reform agenda.

via BBC|
#budget-hearing#hhs#measles-outbreak