Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
HHS' Abstinence-Only Overhaul Of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Put On Hold By Court
The Hill: Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Changes
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s changes to the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program that resulted in the abrupt loss of tens of millions of dollars in federal grants. The order from U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who was appointed by former President Obama, pauses the administration’s effort to reshape the TPP program into abstinence-only curricula. (Weixel, 8/19)
Fierce Healthcare: HHS Awards $96.7M In Behavioral Health Services Grants
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $96.7 million in grants and cooperative agreements on Monday to strengthen a range of behavioral health services and initiatives across the nation. The grants were funded through HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Services provided include support for homeless individuals with serious mental illness, suicide prevention and early intervention, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, peer support and more. (Gleeson, 8/19)
On the immigration crisis —
Military.com: 3.3 Million US Citizens' Data Collected For 'Massive Genetic Database For Policing'
New research by the Center on Privacy & Technology at Georgetown Law found that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has collected the DNA of more than 3.3 million people, with the program’s “primary purpose” not revolving around immigration enforcement but to “build a national DNA database for solving crimes.” The data collection encompassing both the Biden and Trump administrations is claimed to be a continuation of federal government efforts to build a massive genetic database for policing the general population, with Georgetown researchers citing a March 2025 email scribed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attorney purportedly stating such intent. (Mordowanec, 8/19)
The New York Times: Trump Officials Scrap Effort To Recruit Pentagon Lawyers To Represent Migrant Children
The Trump administration on Wednesday abruptly scrapped a plan to recruit retiring Pentagon lawyers to represent unaccompanied minors in immigration court, a move that would have asked attorneys with little relevant legal experience to help migrant children facing deportation. The shift deepened confusion about how the federal government planned to fulfill its legal obligation to protect the rights of the more than 20,000 unaccompanied minors with pending immigration cases, who advocates say are uniquely vulnerable amid the administration’s push for mass expulsions. (Ngo, 8/19)
On veterans' health —
Newsweek: VA Benefits: Trump Shares Update On Psychedelic Drug Treatment For Veterans
President Donald Trump on Tuesday reaffirmed his administration's push to expand access to psychedelic-assisted treatments for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and depression. In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced a new step involving the hallucinogenic compound ibogaine. (Blake, 8/19)
Military Times: Who Decides What Works? Inside VA’s Mental Health Treatment Playbook
Why can’t veterans always get FDA-approved treatments through VA? VA's Dr Wiecher explains how evidence, safety, guidelines and resources shape VA care. (Oliverio, 8/18)
Updates from Capitol Hill —
Modern Healthcare: HIPRA Bill Targets Apple Watch, Wearable Health Data Privacy
Dr. Bill Cassidy, who chairs the Senate health committee, has a move he makes when he explains what’s wrong with wearable technology being exempt from health privacy law. The Louisiana Republican and gastroenterologist does a little shuffling stutter step, then suddenly charges halfway across a hallway. It’s a characteristic pattern that Cassidy said a physician might note in a patient with Parkinson’s disease. It’s also a signal an Apple Watch could detect and, unlike for physicians, there is no federal rule stopping the tech company or app developers from selling that information. (McAuliff, 8/19)
