Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Head Of HHS' Family Planning Division, An Anti-Abortion Advocate, Abruptly Resigns
The Hill: Top Anti-Abortion Advocate Resigns At Health Department
A top anti-abortion advocate at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) abruptly resigned Friday evening. Teresa Manning, the deputy assistant secretary for population affairs, left after less than a year on the job. A department spokeswoman did not give a reason for her resignation, but said HHS "would like to thank her for her service to this administration and the American people." (Hellmann, 1/12)
Politico: Anti-Birth Control Official Who Led Title X Departs HHS
Manning stated in a 2003 public radio interview that "contraception doesn't work." She also has separately suggested a link between abortion and breast cancer, which has not been proved, and helped craft state legislation to limit access to abortion. ... Valerie Huber, who had been serving as chief of staff for the HHS' assistant secretary of health, was named acting deputy assistant security of OPA. Huber is an advocate for abstinence education who joined HHS in June. (Diamond, 1/12)
The Washington Post: Antiabortion Activist Abruptly Steps Down As Head Of HHS’s Family Planning Division
Manning was escorted from the building by security officials Friday. According to an HHS official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a personnel matter, Manning already had turned in her badge and the escort allowed her to get back out through security. (Eilperin and Winfield Cunningham, 1/13)
CQ: HHS Official Manning Steps Down From Post
At HHS, one of Manning’s key responsibilities was overseeing the Title X program, which administers family planning grants to states and entities across the country. CQ reported earlier this week that the program is delayed in releasing a routine announcement to allow states to apply for funding for 2018. (Raman, 1/13)
In other news —
The Hill: Trump Admin Releases Immigrant Teenager To Obtain Abortion
The Trump administration has released a pregnant immigrant minor in U.S. custody to a sponsor so she can obtain an abortion, Vice News reported Sunday. The teenager, known as “Jane Moe,” was set to be released by Friday, Jan. 26, but was instead released nearly two weeks early. Moe had requested an abortion but was prevented from obtaining one by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), an office within the Department of Health and Human Services. (Thomsen, 1/14)
