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Executive order calls for creation of NIH Women’s Health Division
An executive order issued by the White House today directs the Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health, to establish a Women’s Health Division. The new division will focus on conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women.
In memoriam: Frank M. Ahern, teaching professor emeritus of biobehavioral health
The College of Health and Human Development is saddened to share the news that Frank Ahern, teaching professor emeritus of biobehavioral health, passed away last month. Ahern came to Penn State in 1983 as a senior research associate in the Department of Health Policy and Administration and went on to co-found the Department of Biobehavioral Health in 1991.
Abu Dhabi Health Delegation Concludes Inaugural Visit to China, Opening New Pathways to Advance AI, Precision Medicine and Next-Gen Therapies
/PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate, has concluded its inaugural health and life...
In DOGE’s aftermath, federal health workers bristle at new performance reviews
Changes to the annual performance review process are the latest flashpoint in tensions between federal workers across the Department of Health and Human Services and the Trump administration, federal employees told STAT.
US health secretary Kennedy launches new push on vaccine injuries
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this week launched an agency-wide effort to study and document any health problems reported after vaccination, the Department of Health and Human Services said on Thursday.
Kennedy offers federal support to New York over measles outbreak
New York Governor Kathy Hochul spoke with U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday, and he offered federal support as the state responds to a measles outbreak, the Department of Health and Human Services said on Wednesday.
Kennedy offers federal support to New York over measles outbreak
Oct 7 () - New York Governor Kathy Hochul spoke with U. on Tuesday, and he offered federal support as the state responds to a measles outbreak, the Department of Health and Human Services said on W...
How a controversial camera system is monitoring mental health patients
The Lampard Inquiry started back in September 2024 and I remember going to the first hearing in Chelmsford. Subscribe The bereaved families made placards of their loved ones, they stood outside in silence and then laid flowers to mark the moment. Now, two years on, in a process meant to last another two years, there’s been a development. Last week, we were told the chair, Baroness Lampard, pictured below, could be looking at making interim recommendations. Throughout the process, she has remarked that although this inquiry is looking at almost 2,000 people who were under the care of Essex mental health services from 2000-2023 when they died, the findings could have national implications for other trusts. ‘Records 24 hours a day in patient’s bedroom’ So why has this happened? One system that the inquiry is going to take a closer look at is a controversial monitoring system called Oxevision. It monitors some vital signs of patients remotely by using a camera placed in a room. It’s used by 40% of NHS mental health trusts. But campaigners, particularly the group Stop Oxevision, have asked for this technology to be removed from mental health wards as soon as possible. I spoke to a member, Hat Porter, today and they described to me what they thought this technology did and explained their concerns: “It records 24 hours a day and it’s located in a patient’s bedroom, which is obviously somewhere you’d usually expect to be a private place. “Our concerns are that the use of the technology has been has been kind of implemented as a substitute for proper in-person support, that it’s kind of over relied on and that there’s a lot of misunderstandings and that the presence of a camera, which has often been used without people’s consent, sometimes without even their knowledge, that that has a really big impact on privacy, dignity and human rights.” ‘Not sufficient’ I put it to them that the company behind Oxevision would dispute their claims about consent and in videos I’ve seen online from NHS trusts, they make it clear that the technology is complementary to trained staff and not a replacement. [ ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/the-nottingham-inquiry-what-lessons) [ How the Nottingham inquiry shines a spotlight on other key mental health care failings ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/the-nottingham-inquiry-what-lessons) Victoria Macdonald · Feb 12 [ Read full story ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/the-nottingham-inquiry-what-lessons) A team of lawyers has been working on the inquiry and with bereaved family members who have concerns about this technology. I spoke to solicitor Priya Singh, from Hodge Jones & Allen, who made the point that questions usually asked by nurses would be missing from using devices like this. “It’s not sufficient to say, oh, the patient is moving around. Somebody must go in and say, are you okay? Are you distressed? Do you want help? Is there anything I can do? Share Channel 4 News “How are you spending your time? So I think a lot of our families cannot see the function of it when ultimately the patient should only really be observed when they’ve been prescribed to be observed, they can be observed more, but that more should really be happening face to face.” The Chair will hear evidence over the next two weeks and then a decision made after that, which could have national impact if she does decide this technology should be investigated or even removed. The Department of Health and Social Care said: “The Government is committed to ensuring that lessons are learned from the Lampard Inquiry to improve patient safety. “We are confident that the Inquiry will play an important role in identifying wider learnings for the health system following the tragic events in Essex and will contribute to improvements in patient safety.” We approached LIO Health, which runs Oxevision, for comment. Subscribe Share Channel 4 News Leave a comment
'After the holidays' has arrived: The expert's recommendations for a proper return to routine
The holiday period has ended. Dr. Sigal Mazor, director of the Department of Health Education and Promotion at Clalit, provides a series of recommendations on returning to routine.
RFK Jr.'s AI claims spark physician backlash as debate over medical AI intensifies
Robert F. | Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, said on Tuesday that artificial intelligence can provide patients a second opinion that is "much better informed than any doctor in the country."
MD Health Department fined $4.7M so far for delayed psychiatric care
Maryland is scheduled to approve a six-figure payment after the Department of Health failed to provide prompt psychiatric care to criminal defendants, an ongoing issue that has racked up a cost of $4.7 million.
Mo. files new proposed regulations for cannabis business ownership, product recalls
The Department of Health and Senior Services recently filed proposed rule amendments regarding cannabis facilities in Missouri.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Awards Over $1.3 Million to North Dakota Universities
The Department of Health and Human Services awarded $1,330,665 to three North Dakota universities.
AI is everywhere. Should you use it for health advice?
The following expert commentary can be used by journalists and media organizations in their own publications and news coverage. Please attribute all quotes to Xiaoqian Jiang, PhD, chair of the Department of Health Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston.
New Hampshire Receives Over $2 Million in Federal Grants to Support Mental Health Efforts Statewide
Governor Kelly Ayotte and Commissioner Lori Weaver of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) celebrated New Hampshire receiving over $2 million in federal grants aimed at expanding behavioral health crisis support and mental health services across the state. The grants will provide critical funding for New Hampshire’s 988 Lifeline and support mental health...
Rial-Faigenbaum Helps Advance New Strength–Risk Continuum in Sports Medicine
Tamara Rial-Faigenbaum, Ph.D., specialist professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education, is a co-author in the British Journal of Sports Medicine editorial calling for muscular weakness to be recognized as a clinically relevant risk marker and for muscle strength to become a routine component of health care. The article “The Strength-Risk Continuum: Reframing […]
HHS cancels health insurance of 760,000 individuals enrolled in healthcare.gov plans
The Department of Health and Human Services announced something it's never done before - canceled the health insurance of 760,000 individuals enrolled in plans in the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
Face the State | Diving into the politics of measles, healthcare in Pennsylvania
In this week’s edition of Face the State, one politician shares why he believes a proposed amendment by the Department of Health is unconstitutional.
Senate Hearing on Department of Health & Human Services Executive Nominations
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee holds a hearing on three of President Trump's executive nominations for positions at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Health department reports 2 more measles-related deaths in Pa.
The Department of Health reported two more measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania, bringing the total number to four so far in 2026.
Pennsylvania senators McCormick, Fetterman seek answers on canceled health grants
Republican Sen. Dave McCormick and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman are pressing the Department of Health and Human Services for details about the cancellation of federal health research grants affecting institutions across the commonwealth.
Bill Directing Federal Health Officials To Track Testing For Marijuana And Other Drugs In Hospital ERs Set For House Vote This Week
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill this week to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study how prevalent drug testing for marijuana, fentanyl and other drugs is in hospital emergency departments. The legislation, which cleared the House Energy and Commerce Committee in a unanimous 46-0 […]
Chester County measles cases rise as state reports 676 infections
Chester County has recently been designated a county with community transmission, according to the Department of Health.
The Cost of Cutting American Science: How Federal Cuts Diminish Public Health Capacity
Among the federal government’s many responsibilities is the work it does to protect public health. Federal agencies monitor our food supply to ensure safety, conduct research to better understand emerging health threats, provide funding for public health programs in communities and work to detect and respond to disease outbreaks. Americans rely on these efforts every day—in a 2024 online survey, 74% of respondents said that “if the federal government issued safety guidance about food you eat regularly,” they would follow it. Changes to Federal Public Health Capacity The Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the federal government have resulted in significant impacts on our nation’s public health capacity over the past 20 months, affecting the response to health concerns such as measles, Ebola and cyclosporiasis. Agencies with core public health, food safety and disease prevention responsibilities experienced large workforce decreases during the first year of the administration. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for instance, the workforce in February 2026 was 26.7% smaller than in September 2024 before the start of the Trump administration. The Food and Drug Administration saw a similarly steep decline of 21.6%. Agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Food Safety and Inspection Service also experienced large workforce decreases. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); Changes can also be seen in crucial public health occupations. The number of federal food inspectors, for example, decreased by more than half between September 2024 and February 2026, going from 1,035 to 473. This is the lowest number of food inspectors employed by the federal government since at least 2005. By February 2026, there were also 33.3% fewer federal public health program specialists, whose work includes advising federal funding recipients on public health activities and analyzing the effectiveness of public health programs. Government’s capacity is diminished as employees with specialized knowledge and experience in protecting the public and responding to health risks depart, leaving agencies less prepared to carry out their public health missions. There also have been vacancies in critical high-level leadership positions at public health agencies, most notably at the CDC, which had a permanent Senate-confirmed director for less than a month between January 2025 and early August 2026. Although the CDC has previously been led by acting directors at the start of an administration, the nearly yearlong gap since the departure of the administration’s first permanent director in August 2025 is without precedent. As of August 2026, the FDA is also currently without a Senate-confirmed commissioner following the previous commissioner’s resignation in May 2026. Additionally, public health agencies are experiencing increased politicization of their leadership ranks. In agencies such as the CDC and Food Safety and Inspection Service, the number of individuals in the Senior Executive Service—the most senior career leaders in government—has declined significantly, while at the same time the number of political appointees has reached record levels. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); At the CDC, for example, the number of career SES decreased 42.9% between December 2024 and February 2026, while the number of non-Senate confirmed political appointees at the agency was six times larger than the agency’s historical average from 2009 and 2024. Knowledgeable career leaders are integral to the ability of public health agencies to carry out their work with scientific integrity and professional judgment, and rapid leadership turnover and increased politicization threaten agencies’ ability to make evidence-based decisions to protect our health. The upheaval and politicization in public health agencies have also negatively affected employee engagement. Strong employee engagement is crucial to the ability of agencies to carry out their mission and successfully provide essential services to the public. In the 2025 Public Service Viewpoint Survey conducted by the Partnership for Public Service, the Department of Health and Human Services—which encompasses major public health agencies such as the CDC and FDA—had an employee engagement and satisfaction score of 20.4 out of 100, one of the lowest among large agencies. Only 2.8% of HHS employees indicated trust in their political leaders and only 8.7% reported confidence that they could report a suspected violation of law or regulation without retaliation. Employees at HHS also reported that the agency’s ability to provide services to the public had suffered. Nearly half of employees at HHS, 47.5%, said their work unit was worse at delivering quality services compared to its performance in 2024. In addition, 57.8% said their work unit was performing worse at fulfilling stakeholder needs. In addition to the work done within federal agencies, the federal government also distributes significant funding for public health and disease prevention work to state and local governments, nonprofits and small businesses—funding which has been significantly disrupted. At the CDC, for example, there was a 71.9% decrease in the amount of project grant funding issued in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024. The FDA also issued far less funding in fiscal year 2025—a 21.3% decrease from its fiscal year 2024 funding. Changes in federal funding include the ending of grants to community organizations that worked on HIV prevention and the cancellation of funding for research into improvements to patient safety and healthcare quality. These changes go beyond federal agencies to impact the broader public health ecosystem, including the state and local health departments responsible for much of the on-the-ground public health work in their communities. About 80% of the CDC’s domestic funding is directed towards state and local partners—meaning that cuts to CDC funding can ultimately result in cuts to state and local public health capacity. Federal agencies also provide expertise and assistance to state and local health agencies as they deal with particular health challenges, but workforce cuts have resulted in fewer federal employees available to help. The Impact of Changes to Public Health Capacity These changes to federal public health capacity are not abstract concerns. Disrupted programs, reduced funding and lost expertise at public health agencies across all levels of government threaten the public’s physical well-being and safety. In some cases, this has already led to harm. The most immediate impacts of federal cuts were seen in interruptions to ongoing public health programs and crisis responses. In one instance, when CDC grants were canceled during the 2025 Texas measles outbreak—the most severe measles outbreak in 25 years—public health officials in Lubbock, Texas were forced to pause parts of their measles response work supported by the frozen funding. Lubbock’s director of public health further said that a lack of available CDC experts to reach out to for advice “definitely” impacted the department’s response to the measles crisis. Cuts to federal funding also forced Dallas County Health and Human Services to cut staff and cancel 50 community vaccination clinics during the outbreak. Public health work outside of major outbreak responses was also disrupted. For example, in April 2025, the Milwaukee Public Health Department was unexpectedly unable to reach experts on lead poisoning due to firings at the CDC when responding to concerns about lead contamination in Milwaukee public schools. Due to federal workforce cuts, several programs at the CDC, including Alzheimer’s and epilepsy programs, have also become trapped in limbo—existing on paper, but without the staff necessary to operate. More recent crises reveal how federal cuts have weakened the public health infrastructure needed to prevent and respond to dangerous new outbreaks. Internationally, cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development eliminated funding for disease testing and contact tracing abroad, which delayed detection of and responses to the 2026 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While international outbreaks may seem far removed, the unchecked spread of disease in any country can quickly pose a danger to economic well-being, security and health around the world. Within the United States, public health cuts inhibited responses to the summer 2026 outbreak of the food-borne parasite cyclospora. At the federal level, cuts to funding for lab equipment and for CDC staff with expertise in parasitic infections—including 9 out of 11 staff members at the lab responsible for identifying parasitic outbreaks in 2025— contributed to the largest reporting delay in outbreak cases at the CDC in 15 years. Conflicting communications from the FDA about the source of the outbreak, which followed cuts to the agency’s communications department, additionally led to confusion among the public about how to best avoid infection. At the same time, cuts to HHS funding and support for local and state public health slowed some health departments’ responses to the crisis. The exact costs of these delays, constraints and confusion in public health responses are difficult to estimate. However, their message is clear: federal cuts have already made containing threats to public health even more of a challenge. Conclusion Protecting public health—from food safety to disease prevention—is one of the federal government’s most important missions. Dramatic and haphazard cuts to federal agencies and funding have already disrupted the public health system, impacting the response to challenges such as measles, lead poisoning and cyclosporiasis. The U.S. public health system needed improvement before these disruptions. Since 2022, federal leadership and coordination in response to public health outbreaks has been on the Government Accountability Office’s High-Risk List of areas in need of attention to improve government effectiveness and efficiency. Recent cuts only compound these concerns. The chaotic dismantling of government and resulting disruptions to crucial functions like public health and disease prevention highlight the need for meaningful reform and concrete policy proposals to reimagine how government can better serve the public and be more effective, responsive and accountable. To learn more about the impact of federal cuts to public health and science more broadly, visit The Cost of Cutting American Science. Learn more For more information on the Partnership for Public Service’s government reform initiative, visit Government for a New Era. View here In line with The Cost of Cutting American Science, federal workforce data in this brief is as of February 2026
The Cost of Cutting American Science: How Federal Cuts Diminish Public Health Capacity
Among the federal government’s many responsibilities is the work it does to protect public health. Federal agencies monitor our food supply to ensure safety, conduct research to better understand emerging health threats, provide funding for public health programs in communities and work to detect and respond to disease outbreaks. Americans rely on these efforts every day—in a 2024 online survey, 74% of respondents said that “if the federal government issued safety guidance about food you eat regularly,” they would follow it. Changes to Federal Public Health Capacity The Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the federal government have resulted in significant impacts on our nation’s public health capacity over the past 20 months, affecting the response to health concerns such as measles, Ebola and cyclosporiasis. Agencies with core public health, food safety and disease prevention responsibilities experienced large workforce decreases during the first year of the administration. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for instance, the workforce in February 2026 was 26.7% smaller than in September 2024 before the start of the Trump administration. The Food and Drug Administration saw a similarly steep decline of 21.6%. Agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Food Safety and Inspection Service also experienced large workforce decreases. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); Changes can also be seen in crucial public health occupations. The number of federal food inspectors, for example, decreased by more than half between September 2024 and February 2026, going from 1,035 to 473. This is the lowest number of food inspectors employed by the federal government since at least 2005. By February 2026, there were also 33.3% fewer federal public health program specialists, whose work includes advising federal funding recipients on public health activities and analyzing the effectiveness of public health programs. Government’s capacity is diminished as employees with specialized knowledge and experience in protecting the public and responding to health risks depart, leaving agencies less prepared to carry out their public health missions. There also have been vacancies in critical high-level leadership positions at public health agencies, most notably at the CDC, which had a permanent Senate-confirmed director for less than a month between January 2025 and early August 2026. Although the CDC has previously been led by acting directors at the start of an administration, the nearly yearlong gap since the departure of the administration’s first permanent director in August 2025 is without precedent. As of August 2026, the FDA is also currently without a Senate-confirmed commissioner following the previous commissioner’s resignation in May 2026. Additionally, public health agencies are experiencing increased politicization of their leadership ranks. In agencies such as the CDC and Food Safety and Inspection Service, the number of individuals in the Senior Executive Service—the most senior career leaders in government—has declined significantly, while at the same time the number of political appointees has reached record levels. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); At the CDC, for example, the number of career SES decreased 42.9% between December 2024 and February 2026, while the number of non-Senate confirmed political appointees at the agency was six times larger than the agency’s historical average from 2009 and 2024. Knowledgeable career leaders are integral to the ability of public health agencies to carry out their work with scientific integrity and professional judgment, and rapid leadership turnover and increased politicization threaten agencies’ ability to make evidence-based decisions to protect our health. The upheaval and politicization in public health agencies have also negatively affected employee engagement. Strong employee engagement is crucial to the ability of agencies to carry out their mission and successfully provide essential services to the public. In the 2025 Public Service Viewpoint Survey conducted by the Partnership for Public Service, the Department of Health and Human Services—which encompasses major public health agencies such as the CDC and FDA—had an employee engagement and satisfaction score of 20.4 out of 100, one of the lowest among large agencies. Only 2.8% of HHS employees indicated trust in their political leaders and only 8.7% reported confidence that they could report a suspected violation of law or regulation without retaliation. Employees at HHS also reported that the agency’s ability to provide services to the public had suffered. Nearly half of employees at HHS, 47.5%, said their work unit was worse at delivering quality services compared to its performance in 2024. In addition, 57.8% said their work unit was performing worse at fulfilling stakeholder needs. In addition to the work done within federal agencies, the federal government also distributes significant funding for public health and disease prevention work to state and local governments, nonprofits and small businesses—funding which has been significantly disrupted. At the CDC, for example, there was a 71.9% decrease in the amount of project grant funding issued in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024. The FDA also issued far less funding in fiscal year 2025—a 21.3% decrease from its fiscal year 2024 funding. Changes in federal funding include the ending of grants to community organizations that worked on HIV prevention and the cancellation of funding for research into improvements to patient safety and healthcare quality. These changes go beyond federal agencies to impact the broader public health ecosystem, including the state and local health departments responsible for much of the on-the-ground public health work in their communities. About 80% of the CDC’s domestic funding is directed towards state and local partners—meaning that cuts to CDC funding can ultimately result in cuts to state and local public health capacity. Federal agencies also provide expertise and assistance to state and local health agencies as they deal with particular health challenges, but workforce cuts have resulted in fewer federal employees available to help. The Impact of Changes to Public Health Capacity These changes to federal public health capacity are not abstract concerns. Disrupted programs, reduced funding and lost expertise at public health agencies across all levels of government threaten the public’s physical well-being and safety. In some cases, this has already led to harm. The most immediate impacts of federal cuts were seen in interruptions to ongoing public health programs and crisis responses. In one instance, when CDC grants were canceled during the 2025 Texas measles outbreak—the most severe measles outbreak in 25 years—public health officials in Lubbock, Texas were forced to pause parts of their measles response work supported by the frozen funding. Lubbock’s director of public health further said that a lack of available CDC experts to reach out to for advice “definitely” impacted the department’s response to the measles crisis. Cuts to federal funding also forced Dallas County Health and Human Services to cut staff and cancel 50 community vaccination clinics during the outbreak. Public health work outside of major outbreak responses was also disrupted. For example, in April 2025, the Milwaukee Public Health Department was unexpectedly unable to reach experts on lead poisoning due to firings at the CDC when responding to concerns about lead contamination in Milwaukee public schools. Due to federal workforce cuts, several programs at the CDC, including Alzheimer’s and epilepsy programs, have also become trapped in limbo—existing on paper, but without the staff necessary to operate. More recent crises reveal how federal cuts have weakened the public health infrastructure needed to prevent and respond to dangerous new outbreaks. Internationally, cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development eliminated funding for disease testing and contact tracing abroad, which delayed detection of and responses to the 2026 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While international outbreaks may seem far removed, the unchecked spread of disease in any country can quickly pose a danger to economic well-being, security and health around the world. Within the United States, public health cuts inhibited responses to the summer 2026 outbreak of the food-borne parasite cyclospora. At the federal level, cuts to funding for lab equipment and for CDC staff with expertise in parasitic infections—including 9 out of 11 staff members at the lab responsible for identifying parasitic outbreaks in 2025— contributed to the largest reporting delay in outbreak cases at the CDC in 15 years. Conflicting communications from the FDA about the source of the outbreak, which followed cuts to the agency’s communications department, additionally led to confusion among the public about how to best avoid infection. At the same time, cuts to HHS funding and support for local and state public health slowed some health departments’ responses to the crisis. The exact costs of these delays, constraints and confusion in public health responses are difficult to estimate. However, their message is clear: federal cuts have already made containing threats to public health even more of a challenge. Conclusion Protecting public health—from food safety to disease prevention—is one of the federal government’s most important missions. Dramatic and haphazard cuts to federal agencies and funding have already disrupted the public health system, impacting the response to challenges such as measles, lead poisoning and cyclosporiasis. The U.S. public health system needed improvement before these disruptions. Since 2022, federal leadership and coordination in response to public health outbreaks has been on the Government Accountability Office’s High-Risk List of areas in need of attention to improve government effectiveness and efficiency. Recent cuts only compound these concerns. The chaotic dismantling of government and resulting disruptions to crucial functions like public health and disease prevention highlight the need for meaningful reform and concrete policy proposals to reimagine how government can better serve the public and be more effective, responsive and accountable. To learn more about the impact of federal cuts to public health and science more broadly, visit The Cost of Cutting American Science. Learn more For more information on the Partnership for Public Service’s government reform initiative, visit Government for a New Era. View here In line with The Cost of Cutting American Science, federal workforce data in this brief is as of February 2026
Jumping into the lake? Watch out for brain-eating amoebas
The Department of Health is reminding people who are active in Florida’s freshwater to wear nose clips to avoid infections by a brain-eating amoeba presently active.
Anthony Dotson creates a foundation for students to soar in imaging sciences
As an associate professor of imaging sciences at Morehead State University, Anthony Dotson provides students with personal instruction that not only helps them become certified medical professionals but also enables them to make an impactful contribution to the field of imaging sciences. Between his teaching and previous work as an imaging sciences technician and hospital administrator, Dotson has gained a great deal of knowledge, experience and passion that he is intent on passing on to every student he teaches. Anthony Dotson can be reached at a.dotson@moreheadstate.edu or 606-783-2646. For more information about imaging sciences programs at Morehead State, contact the Department of Health, Kinesiology, Imaging & Psychological Sciences, email kh@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2180.
US Health Department Seeks Public Feedback on Vaccine Guidelines After Trump Order
Aug 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. health department said on Friday it was seeking public feedback on federal vaccine recommendations, including how they are categorized and communicated, after President Donald Trump's executive order calling for fewer childhood vaccinations. The Department of Health ...
HHS announces addition of behavioral health programs eligible for federal reimbursement
The Department of Health and Human Services Aug. 18 announced that its Administration for Children and Families has added two new peer support programs to the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse, allowing all states to claim federal reimbursement. One addition is the Family-Based Recovery program, which focuses on in-home clinical treatment for parents combatting addiction who have children ages 0-5.
HHS awards more than $96 million in behavioral health grants
The Department of Health and Human Services yesterday announced that it will award $96.7 million in grants through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for various behavioral health services.
ONC increases funding to expand TEFCA
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has awarded The Sequoia Project funding for the next year under its existing five-year contract to act as the Recognized Coordinating Entity implementing the nationwide Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement.WHY IT MATTERSThe Sequoia Project also received a 15% increase in funding for the next contract year, the non-profit organization said on Monday.
HHS seeks comments on collection of customer feedback for national health information exchange network
The Department of Health and Human Services Aug. 14 released a request for comments through the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT on a proposed three-year generic clearance to collect routine customer feedback on service delivery and performance related to the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement.
Public Health reports first heat-related deaths in 2026 | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
The first heat-related deaths in Idaho this year have been reported to public health officials at the Department of Health and Welfare. Three Idaho residents, all over the age of 55, died in the past week when temperatures in Idaho exceeded 90 degrees. All three lived in different communities across southern Idaho.
Trump's HHS abandons threat to withhold Medicare and Medicaid funding over trans care
NPR has learned that the Department of Health and Human Services will not be finalizing its most aggressive attempt to end gender affirming care for youth nationally.
Expanding a legacy of leadership: The Dr. Ann E. Nolte Trust gifts over $300K to ISU health sciences
The Department of Health Sciences at Illinois State University has received a generous gift of over $300,000 from the Dr. Ann E. Nolte Trust.
New HHS agenda targeting antidepressants creates pushback
As the Department of Health and Human Services creates new efforts to limit the overprescription of SSRI drugs, psychiatrists are pushing back.
Politics: High Cost Of Healthcare And The Political Fallout
Americans are grappling with a rising cost in healthcare. For the first time in five years, fewer than half of Americans can consistently afford healthcare. That’s according to the latest data from Gallup. The cost of healthcare in the US remains higher than any other large, wealthy country. According to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services, five million fewer people are enrolled in marketplace plans for 2026, compared to last year. That’s as average premium costs rose about 58%.With health care costs increasingly becoming a stress for Americans, voters are now making the issue a top priority at the ballot box. And it’s an issue that crosses party and geographic lines. According to new polling from The Century Foundation, 71% of Democrats, 66% of Republicans and 75% of rural voters agree that reigning in hospital costs should be a top priority for lawmakers. While new polling from Ipsos and Axios suggests that a majority of Americans say they’re more likely to vote for candidates in November who will lower their health costs.How will the issue of healthcare shape the midterms? And how are Americans grappling with the cost of their health?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
Politics: High Cost Of Healthcare And The Political Fallout
Americans are grappling with a rising cost in healthcare. For the first time in five years, fewer than half of Americans can consistently afford healthcare. That’s according to the latest data from Gallup. The cost of healthcare in the US remains higher than any other large, wealthy country. According to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services, five million fewer people are enrolled in marketplace plans for 2026, compared to last year. That’s as average premium costs rose about 58%.With health care costs increasingly becoming a stress for Americans, voters are now making the issue a top priority at the ballot box. And it’s an issue that crosses party and geographic lines. According to new polling from The Century Foundation, 71% of Democrats, 66% of Republicans and 75% of rural voters agree that reigning in hospital costs should be a top priority for lawmakers. While new polling from Ipsos and Axios suggests that a majority of Americans say they’re more likely to vote for candidates in November who will lower their health costs.How will the issue of healthcare shape the midterms? And how are Americans grappling with the cost of their health?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
About 3 million people have dropped Obamacare health coverage after subsidies expire and costs rise
The Department of Health and Human Services suggests the 13% drop is due to a federal crackdown on fraudulent enrollmentut, but health analysts believe it's more likely related to the Jan. 1 expiration of federal subsidies.
Millions drop Obamacare health coverage after subsidies expire and costs rise
New federal figures show that about 3 million fewer people had Affordable Care Act health insurance plans in February compared with the same time last year. The Department of Health and Human Services...
UW lays off 13 in the Department of Health Systems and Population Health, just four days after graduation
UW lays off 13 in the Department of Health Systems and Population Health, just four days after graduation
State elevates Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center to Level I trauma center
Lakeland Regional becomes the 12th Level I center designated by the Department of Health. The hospital, which cares for more than 4,400 patients annually, has been a provisional Level I facility since May 2025.
Federal health agencies unveil plan to speed up phase 1 clinical trials by 6 to 12 months
As the biotech world flocks to San Diego today for the BIO International Convention, the Department of Health and Human Services has provided plenty of conversation fodder with the announcement of | As the biotech world flocks to San Diego today for the BIO International Convention, the Department of Health and Human Services has provided plenty of conversation fodder with the announcement of a series of efforts to regain ground on China’s surging early-stage clinical development capabilities.
Former high-level health officials think out loud about HHS, FDA
More than 15 years after the National Academy of Medicine summoned a blue-ribbon panel to “reimagine” the Department of Health and Human Services for the 21st century, the cabinet-level operation has yet to make good on the experts’ overarching directive.
Missouri health department transfers $71.9 million in marijuana funds
The Department of Health and Senior Services has disbursed $194.6 million to various statewide agencies to date.
Senate Panel to Consider Mark Cruz for Indian Health Service Director Post
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will hold a nomination hearing on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 10 a.m. EDT to consider Mark Cruz, a citizen of the Klamath Tribes, for the position of director of the Indian Health Service (IHS) within the Department of Health and Human Services. The White House announced on Monday, […]
HHS announces over $700 million to fund behavioral health, other initiatives
The Department of Health and Human Services June 17 announced it will provide more than $700 million in funding for initiatives on mental illness, addiction and homelessness.
Trump moves oversight of special education, civil rights out of Education Dept.
The Department of Justice will take on enforcement of civil rights in education, while the Department of Health and Human Services will oversee special education
Trump moves oversight of special education, civil rights out of Education Dept.
The Department of Justice will take on enforcement of civil rights in education, while the Department of Health and Human Services will oversee special education
CMS, HHS request information for potential modifications to ACA Essential Health Benefits
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department of Health and Human Services issued a request for information (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/15/2026-11994/request-for-information-comprehensive-review-of-the-essential-health-benefits-framework-and-typical) June 12 seeking input on CMS’ review of the Affordable Care Act’s Essential Health Benefits framework and the requirement that the scope of EHBs is equal to the scope of benefits provided under a standard employer plan.
Science: HHS Asking for Changes in NIH-Funded Research
The Department of Health and Human Services is now reviewing all grants approved by its National Institutes of Health, and HHS staff “sometimes ask for substantive changes in the research,”
Trump tells agencies to align with study calling for narrower childhood vaccine recommendations
President Trump is giving his endorsement to a January study by the Department of Health and Human Services that calls for cutting the number of vaccines recommended for every American child.
Trump tells agencies to align with study calling for narrower childhood vaccine recommendations
President Donald Trump on Friday gave his endorsement to a January study by the Department of Health and Human Services that calls for cutting the number of vaccines recommended for every American child.
Trump's health department is expanding the use of AI in the hunt for fraud
The Department of Health and Human Services is boosting its use of artificial intelligence to monitor audits from federal grant recipients.
HHS warns of children’s screen time use, citing impact on sleep, mental health
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) warned about children’s screen time in an advisory released Wednesday, citing impacts on sleep and mental health. The “Surgeon General’s Warn…
Trump administration freezes Medicare enrollments for new home health care, hospice providers
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is placing a moratorium on new Medicare enrollments from home health care and hospice providers, as part of the Trump administration’s effort…
Trump and Kennedy Seek To Relax Safeguards for AI Healthcare Tools
For years, the Department of Health and Human Services built standards to make sure electronic health records were user-friendly and offered transparent advice to doctors. Now they’re relaxing those standards, and doctors and critics in the hospital industry are worried.
FDA chief plans to resign amid agency turmoil
The ouster of Makary is the latest shake-up at the Department of Health and Human Services, with some officials selected by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. being swapped out for more conventional choices.
HHS launches competition to support community care hubs working with health care providers
The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living has launched the first phase of its Health at Home Challenge, a competition to support community care networks that have partnered with health care providers supporting dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
Trump administration launches moms.gov to support pregnant women and families
The initiative falls under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
‘That’s a problem’: Councilor grills health commissioner over childcare workforce grant funding
Executive Councilor John Stephen pointedly questioned officials from the Department of Health and Human Services during this week’s meeting about why a childcare workforce grant program was not funded.
Graduating Redbirds: First-gen public health student’s journey for health equity
Zenab Ahmad from the Department of Health Sciences is graduating this May.
Lawmakers urged by AHA to support key health initiatives in FY 2027 appropriations bill
The AHA April 29 urged House and Senate appropriations committee leaders to fund health care programs that have been successful in improving access to care for patients and communities nationwide, as the committee begins drafting the fiscal year 2027 appropriations bills. The AHA encouraged Congress to support various programs focusing on the health care workforce, maternal and child health, rural health, disaster preparedness, medical research and behavioral health. Additionally, the AHA urged legislators to include specific bill language that would bar the use of funds for the implementation of a 340B Rebate Model Program at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Congressman Cohen Announces $$6.8 Million Grant to Christ Community Health Services
WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Christ Community Health Services will receive a grant of $6,832,768 from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services to operate its programs for its economically or medically vulnerable patients.Congressman Cohen made the following statement:
4 takeaways from Health Secretary RFK Jr.'s gauntlet of congressional hearings
In his testimony to various committees in the Senate and the House over multiple days, Kennedy was tasked with defending President Donald Trump’s proposed 2027 budget, which would boost defense spending while cutting more than 12% of funding from the Department of Health and Human Services.
4 takeaways from Health Secretary RFK Jr.'s gauntlet of congressional hearings
In his testimony to various committees in the Senate and the House over multiple days, Kennedy was tasked with defending President Donald Trump’s proposed 2027 budget, which would boost defense spending while cutting more than 12% of funding from the Department of Health and Human Services.
A game of split-second decisions: Putting health and human performance to the test
When athletes step onto the field, reacting a fraction of a second too late can be the difference between making a play and sustaining an injury. At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, faculty in the Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP) are studying what drives those split-second decisions and how sleep, mental health and cognitive processing affect performance and injury risk.
State House moves forward with Health Dept. budget
LANSING — Two and a half months before the state’s budget deadline, members of the Republican-led Michigan House of Representatives unleashed a flurry of budget proposals from their respective subcommittees, including a three-part plan to fund the Department of Health and Human Services. With the department making up nearly half of the state budget, members […]
CMS Launches First Wave of Health Tech Ecosystem Health Information Sharing and Access Tools
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched the first wave of Health Tech Ecosystem The CMS has launched the first wave of Health Tech Ecosystem tools under its initiative to improve interoperability and patient access to their own health information.
Measles exposure at Boise Airport? Idaho health officials issue warning
The Department of Health and Welfare said people traveling through on this date should watch for symptoms. Many flyers are being contacted.
Group homes licensed by the Health Department drive growth — and problems
Group homes can be licensed by the Department of Human Services or, more recently, by the Department of Health. in Brooklyn Park, which has more group homes than any other city in Minnesota, those Health Department-licensed facilities appear to be responsible for an outsize number of the police calls that the city says are overwhelming its first responders.
April 1, 2025, The Day the Science Died
On April 1, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services issued broad Reduction in Force (RIF) notifications that wiped out entire divisions at
Department of Health and Human Services provides behavioral health resources for Nebraskans affected by wildfires
The Department of Health and Human Services Division of Behavioral Health encourages Nebraskans affected by the wildfires to seek emotional support at relief centers near areas affected by the wildfires.
HHS investigating 13 states for ‘coercing’ healthcare providers to provide abortions
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today that it is launching investigations into 13 states for violating a federal health refusal clause and “coercing” healthc…
Health Care Workforce: Federal Grants Supporting Mental Health
Health professionals often work in stressful environments that can affect their mental health. From 2022-2024, the Department of Health and Human...
How a year of RFK, Jr., has changed American science
After a year of RFK, Jr., heading the Department of Health and Human Services, the “Make America Healthy Again” movement has upended science and medicine
RFK Jr. Made Promises in Order To Become Health Secretary. He’s Broken Many of Them.
Before being confirmed to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told U.S. senators he would not cut funding for vaccine research or change the nation’s official vaccine recommendations. He did both.
Health Regulators Ask DOJ to Investigate Hims & Hers. The Stock Plunges.
The Department of Health and Human Services referred the consumer wellness company to the Department of Justice for investigation, wrote HHS general counsel Mike Stuart in a post on X Friday afternoon.
Florida healthcare advocates protest cuts to state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program
Outside the Department of Health in St. Pete and Orlando Friday, healthcare advocates and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) protested the proposed cuts to Florida’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).
NI health: About 200,000 extra patients seen to tackle NI waiting lists
The Department of Health says across the past year, "significant gains have been achieved".
HHS Pauses Roughly $5 Billion in State Public Health Grants
The Department of Health and Human Services sent notices Saturday to states and partners pausing public health grants, which adds up to an estimated $5 billion in potential losses for health departments.
House Appropriations Committee releases health funding proposal
The House Appropriations Committee has unveiled proposed outlays for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including key investments in priorities within the Make America Healthy Again | The House Appropriations Committee has unveiled proposed outlays for the Department of Health and Human Services, including key investments in priorities within the Make America Healthy Again movement and long-discussed pharmacy benefit manager oversight.
HHS terminates thousands of grants for substance use, mental health worth billions
The Department of Health and Human Services told grantees funding their projects was no longer aligned with agency priorities.
Rural health transformation program jobs will be temporary, WV health department says
The staff the Department of Health intends to hire to oversee the Rural Health Transformation Program will be “temporary by design."
Health Department releases new dietary guidelines with inverted food pyramid
On Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services released an updated version of dietary guidelines and a new food pyramid.
In a tumultuous year, U.S. health policy has been dramatically reshaped under RFK Jr.
President Trump’s second term has brought major changes to the Department of Health and Human Services.
In a tumultuous year, US health policy has been dramatically reshaped under RFK Jr.
President Donald Trump’s second term has brought major changes to the Department of Health and Human Services. Health Secretary Robert F.
In a tumultuous year, US health policy has been dramatically reshaped under RFK Jr.
In the whirlwind first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, some of the most polarizing changes have taken place within the Department of Health and Human Services, where Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has openly rebuffed the medical establishment as he converts the ideas of his Make America Healthy Again movement into public policy. Since entering office in February, the health secretary has overseen a dramatic reshaping of the agencies he oversees, including eliminating thousands of jobs and freezing or canceling billions of dollars for scientific research. As part of his campaign against chronic disease, he has redrawn the government's position on topics such as seed oils, fluoride and Tylenol.
In a Tumultuous Year, US Health Policy Has Been Dramatically Reshaped Under RFK Jr.
WASHINGTON (AP) — In the whirlwind first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, some of the most polarizing changes have taken place within the Department of Health and Human Services, where Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has openly rebuffed the medical establishment as he converts the ideas of his
America’s Year of Health-Care Chaos Will Have These Consequences
The unprecedented turmoil at the US’ top health agencies, under the leadership of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is sure to have a long-term impact on the well-being of Americans. Although Kennedy’s mantra has been to “Make America Healthy Again,” the most visible changes he and his allies have made within the Department of Health and Human Services in 2025 appear, in practice, designed to do the opposite.
Gov. Pillen appoints new director of Nebraska DHHS Division of Public Health
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has appointed a director in the Department of Health and Human Services.
America's new top health diplomat has strong opinions on abortion and gender
Bethany Kozma leads a key global health office at the Department of Health and Human Services. In past experience in the public eye, she's campaigned against abortion and gender-affirming care.
Pediatrician says HHS grant cuts ‘clearly detrimental to the health of America's children’
Dr. Peter Hotez joins Meet the Press NOW to explain how grant cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services could impact millions of American children and their parents. NBC News Medical Reporter Erika Edwards reports on the Trump administration's moves to end transition-related care for minors nationwide.
Under Kennedy, America’s Health Department Is in the Business of Promoting Kennedy
Under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Department of Health and Human Services increasingly uses its social media channels to promote Kennedy himself and his agenda. Interviews with over 20 former and current employees provide a look inside an agency where personality and politics steer communications with the public.
It’s not just vaccines. How RFK Jr. is reshaping public health messaging
Under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Department of Health and Human Services uses its social media channels to promote Kennedy himself and his agenda.