Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
The CDC, Once A Guiding Force For Healthcare, Toils Under Administration's Heavy Hand
The New York Times: ‘Zombified’ C.D.C., Hobbled By Cuts, Struggles To Fulfill Scientific Mission
For decades, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was the undisputed global leader in public health. Its scientists helped train health officials worldwide. In the United States, it was the primary source of guidance for prevention and treatment of diseases, including diabetes, H.I.V. and the seasonal flu. But after a year and a half in the cross hairs of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s drive to remake public health policy, the agency is a skeleton of the powerhouse it was. (Mandavilli, 9/26)
More on vaccine policy —
AP: CDC Vaccine Policy Recommendations Grind To A Halt Under Kennedy
The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new flu vaccine that tested well in older adults. But the federal agency responsible for telling doctors and the general public how to use it has made no recommendation on it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s inaction on the mFlusiva vaccine marks a break in longstanding practice. It’s also an example of how the agency’s vaccine review-and-recommendation process has been blown up in the past year, grinding decision-making to a halt. (Stobbe, 9/25)
CIDRAP: Public Health Advocates Express Concern About Nominee To Lead The FDA
At an August press conference, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stood beside him when he described the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine as “quite lethal.” (Szabo, 9/25)
The Hill: RFK Jr. Faces Scrutiny Over Vaccine Lawsuit Divestment
A group of Senate Democrats questioned whether Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. potentially concealed an agreement to collect money from a settlement with a vaccine manufacturer despite pledging to divest from the lawsuit. At the time of his confirmation process last year, Kennedy was still involved in a lawsuit carried out by the law firm Wisner Baum against Merck over its HPV vaccine Gardasil, alleging that it caused neurological and autoimmune injuries. (Choi, 9/25)
KFF Health News: KFF Health News’ ‘On Air’: Journalists Discuss What RFK Jr. Recently Told The Anti-Vaccine Group He Founded
KFF Health News senior correspondent Stephanie Armour discussed health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s comments to an anti-vaccine group that he founded and the surgeon general nominee’s contradictory comments in her confirmation hearing on WBUR’s Here & Now on Sept. 18. (9/26)
On MAHA and ultraprocessed foods —
The Washington Post: White House Has Not Acted On RFK Jr.’s Push For Proof Ultra-Processed Foods Are Safe
Earlier this year, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seemed poised to challenge the powerful food industry. The Department of Health and Human Services had concluded that food companies should produce “any detailed safety studies” showing that certain ingredients common in ultra-processed foods are generally safe and aren’t contributing to chronic health conditions, according to a March draft of a letter that the secretary sent to the White House for review, and that was obtained by The Washington Post. (Roubein, 9/25)
HealthDay: Eliminating Ultra-Processed Foods In Schools Will Be Costly
A new study warns that eliminating ultra-processed foods from California school cafeterias under the Real Foods, Healthy Kids Act will be costly and complex, requiring major investments in scratch cooking, kitchen equipment, healthier ingredients and trained staff to meet 2029–2035 deadlines. (Thompson, 9/28)
In news about the Veterans Administration —
Military.com: VA Urged By DOGE To Cut 435 Programs Last Year Totaling $1.1 Billion: OIG
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) once led by trillionaire Elon Musk encouraged the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to scrap hundreds of contracts last year totaling approximately $1.1 billion, according to a new government watchdog report. The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) report issued Tuesday was described by the watchdog as a review of contracts "terminated for convenience," or contracts that the government ended "because it was in its best interest." (Mordowanec, 9/26)
Military.com: VA Launches 18th Food Hub As Veterans 7.4% More Likely To Experience Food Insecurity
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has reopened a food hub as part of its pilot program it is running to combat food insecurity among the veteran population. The VA Memphis Healthcare System reopened its hub, Lt. Col. Luke Wathers Jr. VA Medical Center, last week through a partnership with Mid-South Food Bank, allowing veterans to access groceries and other supportive resources in Tennessee. It had initially opened in May as part of a soft opening before the recent full launch. (Plummer, 9/28)
Developments from Capitol Hill —
The Hill: Susan Collins Urges Trump Admin To Spend $1.3B Allocated To Global Health Before It Expires
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, called on the Trump administration to spend more than $1 billion of global health funding that Congress has already appropriated before it expires Wednesday. In a letter sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought and Eric Ueland — the Trump aide in charge of the remnants of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) — Collins warned that $1.3 billion appropriated in fiscal 2025 must be spent as intended. (Weixel, 9/25)
Politico: House Dems To Jeffries: Woo RFK Jr.’s Followers
House Democrats’ health policy wishlist, should the party have a majority next year, includes winning over Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s followers, alongside rolling back what Republicans have done to reduce government health care funding. It also includes the traditional Democratic priorities like expanding health insurance coverage and protecting abortion access. But the 84-page agenda obtained by POLITICO acknowledges there’s no consensus on “Medicare for All.” (Levien, 9/25)
KFF Health News: Republicans And Democrats Find A Unifying Target: Pharmacy Benefit Managers
Amye Joseph says America’s political polarization has made it an “interesting time” in her Tennessee household. She and her husband, Charlie, have been married 35 years. She’s a Republican. He’s a Democrat. But their shared disenchantment with profit-driven healthcare has provided a unifying target: pharmacy benefit managers, known as PBMs. The Josephs’ frustration is focused on CVS Health. The conglomerate, which reported $400 billion in revenue last year, includes a major health insurer (Aetna), one of the country’s dominant PBMs (CVS Caremark), and America’s largest retail pharmacy chain. (Farmer, 9/28)
