Latest KFF Health News Stories
Trump’s Health Nominees Lack Infectious-Disease Expertise
The Washington Post reports on how the lack of tested experience among the hastily assembled team of experts for the next administration could be a problem if there is another pandemic or public health emergency.
Rollins Is Surprise Choice To Oversee USDA; HUD Nominee Is Ex-NFL Player
Donald Trump has picked Brooke Rollins, his former White House domestic policy adviser, to lead the Department of Agriculture, which runs the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Meanwhile, Scott Turner has been selected to run the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which manages homelessness programs.
Surgeon General Pick Dr. Nesheiwat Gained Popularity At Fox News
Although Janette Nesheiwat is a family and emergency medicine physician, she has little public health experience. She supports vaccines but criticized government mandates during the covid pandemic. She also is critical of the standards of care for youth with gender dysphoria.
Trump Selects Weldon As CDC Director — A Doctor Critical Of Agency, Vaccines
For the first time ever, the nominee to lead the nation’s public health agency will need to be confirmed by the Senate. If OK’d, the former Florida congressman would manage about 13,500 employees in an agency with a budget of roughly $9 billion.
FDA Critic Dr. Martin Makary Tapped To Head The FDA
Makary, a Johns Hopkins University surgeon, is known for being critical of the current medical establishment. He is also an executive of the telehealth company Sesame, linking patients to providers of compound weight loss drugs; some worry his appointment could lead to conflicts of interest.
First Edition: Monday, Nov. 25, 2024
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today’s selections are on vaccines, food additives, addiction, dermatology, and fungi.
Calif. Passes Measure To Restrict AIDS Healthcare Foundation Spending
The approved proposition is a measure from an apartment trade group and comes in the wake of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation having supported several rent control initiatives. Other news from around the nation comes out of Oregon, Wisconsin, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.
Chemical Used In Water Purification May Cause Toxic Byproduct, Study Says
In other public health news: low covid vaccination rates; a spike in Valley fever in Arizona; a ground beef recall; and more.
FDA Lifts 3-Year Block On Study Of Marijuana Benefits For PTSD In Vets
Meanwhile, cannabis progress could stop under the Trump administration; a labeling issue prompts a recall of the popular drug Clonazepam; Novartis acquires Kate Therapeutics; and more.
Possible Reasons For Fewer Fatal Opioid ODs: Less-Potent Pills, Xylazine
Tests on the nation’s illicit pill supply have shown that, compared to last year, fewer pills have lethal doses of fentanyl. Another piece of the puzzle could be xylazine, a tranquilizer often mixed with fentanyl, which causes users to fall asleep.
Fundraising For Nonprofit Providers To Help Offset Low Operating Margins
Post-pandemic operating margins remain low. With the National Institutes of Health — a major source of grant funding — facing an uncertain future under the incoming administration, nonprofit health systems are turning to large donors for help.
As Anti-Abortion Rhetoric Ramps Up, Blue States Erect Protective ‘Firewall’
Threats to abortion medication, shield laws, and contraception at the national level have officials in Democratic-leaning states shoring up reproductive freedoms where they can. Meanwhile, in the wake of ProPublica reporting about deaths of pregnant women, Georgia has given the boot to all members of its Maternal Mortality Committee.
Senate Democrats Push Forward With 12 Judge Confirmations, Drop 4 Others
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says the four who were withdrawn from consideration didn’t have the votes to get confirmed. However, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday advanced the nominations of six additional judicial picks.
Trump Taps Loyal Ally Pam Bondi As Nation’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer
In her role as Florida attorney general, Bondi sought to overturn the Affordable Care Act. Although that effort was unsuccessful, the Supreme Court did rule that the individual mandate to purchase insurance was unconstitutional. Also, GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia is poised to become the chairperson of the not-yet-created subcommittee on government efficiency.
Project 2025 Authors Awarded Spots in Trump Administration
Although many of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks have come from the dust jacket of Project 2025, prominent author Roger Severino, a staunch anti-abortionist, has been rejected from consideration for the position of HHS secretary due to his views on abortion being too controversial.
First Edition: Friday, Nov. 22, 2024
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Editorial writers tackle these public health issues.
Research Roundup: The Latest Science, Discoveries, And Breakthroughs
Each week, KFF Health News compiles a selection of the latest health research and news.
