Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump Sets In Motion Effort To Limit Pesticides In Nation's Food Supply
The New York Times: Trump Issues Order To Reduce Pesticides In Food As Kennedy Allies Fume
President Trump, facing a backlash from supporters of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for allying himself with the chemical industry, issued an executive order on Thursday aimed at reducing pesticides in the food supply and studying the health risks they pose. The order does not involve new federal funding, and does not call for new regulations or legislation. Critics contended that it did little to meaningfully address the consequences of pesticide use. Two White House officials, speaking anonymously to preview the order before it was announced, said it was timed to coincide with a dinner Mr. Trump was hosting for farmers. (Stolberg, 6/25)
More about RFK Jr. and the Trump administration —
Politico: Trump Nominates New Top Deputy To RFK Jr.
President Donald Trump said Thursday he was nominating Chris Klomp to be Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s second-in-command at the Department of Health and Human Services. If the Senate confirms him, the 45-year-old tech entrepreneur would become deputy secretary overseeing the vast department’s operations. “Everywhere Chris goes, he earns TRUST. He is a person of principle, and is deeply committed to serving the AMERICAN People — and fixing our broken Healthcare System,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social website. (Paun, 6/25)
The Washington Post: RFK Jr. Urged Iowa Libertarian To Quit House Race, Recording Shows
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged a Libertarian congressional candidate in Iowa to drop out of a competitive House race to help Republicans keep control of Congress, according to an audio recording of the conversation obtained by The Washington Post. During the call, Kennedy said he was acting as a “liaison” with the White House, argued that a Democratic takeover of the House would undermine President Donald Trump’s agenda and suggested that he could help the candidate if he left the race. He also suggested that the candidate could “make an agreement” that would accomplish more than a “symbolic run” for office. (Diamond and Arnsdorf, 6/25)
Stat: Proposed CDC Science Office Could Tighten Political Control At Agency
Political appointees appear poised to gain more control over information coming out of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under a proposal to add a separate science office atop the agency. (Cirruzzo, 6/25)
Bloomberg: FDA Commissioner Shortlist Includes New York Cancer Practice CEO
Jeff Vacirca, a physician and leader of a prominent New York oncology group, is among the final candidates the Trump administration is considering to lead the Food and Drug Administration, according to people familiar with the matter. Several candidates are under consideration and the decision hasn’t been made, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing private information. (Cohrs Zhang, 6/25)
AP: DEA Asks Justice Department Watchdog To Review Fentanyl Pill Strategy In New Mexico
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration on Thursday asked the U.S. Justice Department’s internal watchdog to investigate a whistleblower’s claims that DEA agents permitted hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to hit the streets of New Mexico. The request came days after an Associated Press investigation found agents repeatedly monitored — but did not seize — major shipments of the synthetic opioid in a bid to build bigger criminal cases between 2023 and 2025. (Mustian, 6/25)
KFF Health News: KFF Health News’ ‘What The Health?’: Trump Officials Still Delaying Funds
For the second year in a row, Trump administration officials are delaying the distribution of hundreds of millions of dollars in health-related grant funding as political appointees seek to ensure the funding adheres to the administration’s priorities — despite promises to Congress that the money would be spent as directed. (Rovner, 6/25)
From Capitol Hill —
Becker's Hospital Review: Lawmakers Pitch Cap On Medicare Beneficiary Out-Of-Pocket Costs
Democratic senators introduced legislation June 25 that would cap out-of-pocket costs for traditional Medicare beneficiaries. The Medicare Cost Cap Act would install a $5,000 annual cap for Parts A and B cost-sharing — including deductibles, copays and coinsurance — beginning in 2028. Once the cap is hit, Medicare would pay 100% of covered costs for the rest of the year. The cap would change each year based on per capita Medicare spending growth. (Casolo, 6/25)
Stat: Cassidy Proposes New Rules For 340B Drug Discount Program
The chair of the Senate health committee introduced a bill to restrict a federal drug discount program known as 340B that has been lucrative for nonprofit hospitals. (Wilkerson, 6/25)
Military.com: 47 Senate Lawmakers Oppose VA Disability Rule On Sleep Apnea, Tinnitus
Nearly 50 lawmakers in Congress are urging reconsideration of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) draft rule in a major proposed legislative package that they claim will negatively impact disabled veterans who suffer from sleep apnea and tinnitus. The rule, entitled "Schedule for Rating Disabilities—Ear, Nose, Throat, and Audiology Disabilities; Special Provisions Regarding Evaluation of Respiratory Conditions; Respiratory System," is currently contained within the comprehensive bill package called the Take Care of America's Veterans Act (TCAVA) that was introduced last week and includes more than 60 veterans' bills, such as the Major Richard Star Act, the Love Lives On Act, caregiver reforms, VA modernization initiatives, combat-injured veteran expansions, more support for military spouses and more. (Mordowanec, 6/25)
The New York Times: Johnson Says He Will Send Housing Bill To Trump
Speaker Mike Johnson said on Thursday that he would send to President Trump a bipartisan housing bill cleared by Congress, despite the president’s decision a day earlier to scrap a much-anticipated signing ceremony for the measure. Mr. Trump has yet to commit to signing the legislation, which he has diminished as being “of minor importance” even as members of his own party have celebrated it as a crucial victory that can lower housing costs. (Gold, 6/25)
MedPage Today: Democrats Press Trump Admin On Special Access To Obesity Drug
Democratic lawmakers are pressing the Trump administration to disclose who received special access to Eli Lilly's investigational obesity drug retatrutide. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) sent a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asking who the lone patient was, after STAT reported earlier this week that a request for compassionate use was made to the FDA in April for a "well connected" 79-year-old man with refractory obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and pulmonary hypertension. (Fiore, 6/25)
