Department of Health and Human Services

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention manages several funded units, described as 'zombie programs,' that are financially appropriated by Congress but are functionally inactive due to staff cuts. Layoffs affecting experts occurred following an effort by a previous administration to reorganize federal health agencies. The new CDC director, Dr. Erica Schwartz, now faces congressional pressure during her confirmation hearing to restart these dormant activities and comply with the law.

Michigan reported 13,909 documented cases of cyclosporiasis from a microscopic Cyclospora parasite that spreads through contaminated food or water. A total of 314 people have been hospitalized, and two deaths were reported during the outbreak. Health departments are advising residents to observe basic food safety practices like handwashing and cooking food properly.

Three detransitioners—Clementine Breen, Soren Aldaco, and Luke Healy—claim they were pressured by doctors and hospitals into pursuing gender transition treatments, according to a new HHS-commissioned report. The report alleges that financial incentives encouraged providing these treatments and identified potentially improper insurance billing practices. The cases detail minors receiving procedures starting in childhood, leading to physical consequences like losing fertility or experiencing pain.

The Trump administration proposes significant changes to the Head Start program, intending to 'significantly reduce regulatory requirements' and strip away established features like low student-to-teacher ratios and minimum teacher qualifications. Reports indicate these proposed cuts could involve shifting funding to states, which experts warn might lead to larger class sizes and less qualified teachers.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz's nomination to become director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The confirmation, which passed 51-44, addressed concerns over political interference regarding vaccine policy. During her hearing, lawmakers questioned her on dealing with such interference from the Trump administration.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Texas firm with no immigration law expertise and led by a former Trump administration official, to provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. The previous contract with Acacia Center for Justice expired, and the new firm has limited immigration law experience, with only two of its 30 listed lawyers specializing in the field.

The Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Houston-based firm led by a former Trump administration official, to provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. The firm has limited immigration law expertise, and the previous contract with Acacia Center for Justice expired after disputes over client information.

The Trump administration awarded a $150 million contract to provide legal representation for unaccompanied migrant children to Houston-based Burke Law Group, a firm with limited immigration law experience and ties to the administration. Legal aid groups criticized the decision, warning it could jeopardize children's due process and increase deportation risks.

The Trump administration awarded a $150 million contract to Texas-based Burke Law Group for legal representation of unaccompanied migrant children, despite the firm's limited immigration law experience and ties to the administration. Legal aid groups warn this could jeopardize children's due process and increase deportation risks, as the prior contract with experienced providers expired without replacement.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Houston-based firm founded in 2023 by Marcella Burke, a former Trump administration official, to provide legal services to 24,000 unaccompanied immigrant children. The contract replaces a previous agreement with the Acacia Center for Justice, which expired after tensions over client information, and the new firm has limited immigration law expertise. The contract, starting August 15, 2023, allows subcontracting and follows a decline in legal representation access for immigrant children since December.

The Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to the Burke Law Group, a Texas firm run by a former Trump administration official, to provide legal aid to unaccompanied immigrant children. The firm replaces the Acacia Center for Justice, whose contract expired, and has limited immigration law expertise, with only two of its nearly 30 lawyers specializing in immigration and asylum law.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Texas-based firm with limited immigration law expertise and ties to a former Trump administration official, to provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. The contract replaces a previous agreement with the Acacia Center for Justice, which expired after disputes over client information sharing.

U.S. Senate Democrats criticized the Department of Education's plan to transfer its special education programs and civil rights enforcement responsibilities to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Justice Department, respectively. Advocates and former officials expressed concerns about the potential negative impact on students with disabilities and civil rights protections.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as the next director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with a 51-44 vote. The confirmation followed a July 2026 hearing where lawmakers questioned her on managing political interference in vaccine policy under the vaccine-skeptical agenda of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director with a 51-44 vote, marking the agency's first confirmed leader in nearly a year. The CDC has faced turmoil under recent leadership, including political appointments and staff losses, with Schwartz being the third Trump nominee for the role in 18 months.

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine introduced legislation to reform the 340B federal drug pricing program, which provides prescription discounts to providers serving underserved patients. The bill includes annual reporting requirements, HHS auditing authority, and protections against rebate models to ensure smaller providers can access up-front discounts. The debate also involves Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who proposed a different rebate-based approach.

U.S. Senate Democrats criticized the Department of Education's plan to transfer special education programs and civil rights enforcement to other agencies, a move part of President Donald Trump's efforts to dismantle the department. The transfers include moving special education programs to the Department of Health and Human Services and civil rights enforcement to the Justice Department, with Democrats arguing the Education Department is better equipped to handle these responsibilities.

U.S. Senate Democrats criticized the Department of Education's plan to transfer special education programs and civil rights enforcement to other agencies, arguing these moves undermine expertise and harm students with disabilities. The transfers, part of efforts to dismantle the Education Department, would shift responsibilities to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Justice Department.

Pediatricians and health departments are avoiding the CDC's vaccine guidance due to changes under the Trump administration, including the replacement of the CDC's vaccine advisory board with anti-vaccine appointees. The CDC removed several vaccines from the recommended schedule, prompting legal challenges and confusion among healthcare providers and the public.

U.S. Senate Democrats criticized the Department of Education's plan to transfer special education programs and civil rights enforcement to other agencies, calling it part of President Donald Trump's efforts to dismantle the department. Critics argue the Health and Human Services and Justice Departments lack expertise to manage these responsibilities, risking harm to students with disabilities and civil rights protections.

U.S. Senate Democrats criticized the Department of Education's plan to transfer special education programs and civil rights enforcement to other agencies, a move seen as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to dismantle the department. Critics argued the Health and Human Services and Justice Departments lack the expertise to handle these responsibilities, which include managing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and investigating student discrimination complaints.

A legal services contract for unaccompanied immigrant children expired, leaving over 20,000 children without legal representation. The Trump administration has not awarded a new contract, raising concerns about increased deportations and a lack of transparency in the process.

A legal services contract for unaccompanied immigrant children expired, leaving over 20,000 without legal representation. The Trump administration has not selected a new contractor, raising concerns about faster deportations. The Department of Health and Human Services has not paid $65 million owed to the previous contractor, Acacia Center for Justice, or transitioned cases to new attorneys.

A legal services contract for unaccompanied immigrant children expired under the Trump administration, leaving over 20,000 children without legal representation. The Department of Health and Human Services has not awarded a new contract, raising concerns about faster deportations and unresolved disputes over sharing sensitive client information.

A legal services contract for unaccompanied immigrant children expired, leaving over 20,000 children without legal representation. The Trump administration did not renew the contract with Acacia Center for Justice, and no new contractor has been selected, raising concerns about faster deportations. The Department of Health and Human Services has not reimbursed $65 million to Acacia for legal services.

A legal services contract for unaccompanied immigrant children expired, leaving over 20,000 without legal representation. The Trump administration allowed the contract with Acacia Center for Justice to lapse, raising concerns about increased deportations and lack of transparency in assigning new legal aid providers.

A 10-year legal services contract for unaccompanied immigrant children expired under the Trump administration, leaving over 20,000 children without legal representation and at risk of deportation. The Department of Health and Human Services has not selected a new contractor, and the Acacia Center for Justice, which previously held the contract, reports unpaid funds and lack of transition planning.

More than 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children lost legal representation after the Trump administration allowed a contract with the Acacia Center for Justice to expire. Without lawyers, fewer than 10% of these children secure the right to remain in the U.S. during immigration proceedings. The Department of Health and Human Services has not announced a replacement contractor or transition plan.

A legal services contract for unaccompanied immigrant children expired under the Trump administration, leaving over 20,000 children without legal representation. Without lawyers, fewer than 10% of these children secure the right to remain in the U.S. during immigration court proceedings. The Department of Health and Human Services has not selected a new contractor or reimbursed $65 million to the previous provider, Acacia Center for Justice.

President Donald Trump's administration is planning to overhaul Head Start by reducing federal quality standards and shifting more authority to states. The proposed changes would replace over 100 pages of regulations with shorter rules, requiring more documentation for homeless or unemployed parents and potentially barring enrollment for children of undocumented parents.

President Donald Trump's administration is planning to overhaul Head Start by replacing its detailed quality standards with shorter regulations, potentially reducing federal oversight and increasing requirements for parent documentation. The changes could weaken the program's focus on poverty-related support for low-income children, according to experts and officials.

A bipartisan U.S. Senate committee approved a bill to block interagency agreements transferring education programs from the Department of Education to other federal departments. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine with co-sponsors Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, aims to preserve programs related to special education, elementary and secondary education, and others at the Education Department.

The Trump administration plans to overhaul Head Start, replacing its detailed federal quality standards with shorter rules that delegate most requirements to states. The proposed changes could include stricter documentation for homeless or unemployed parents and a provision potentially barring children of undocumented immigrants from enrollment, though details remain unclear.

The Trump administration attributes a 3 million drop in Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollment to fraud crackdowns, but experts argue rising premiums and deductibles are the primary cause. The Department of Health and Human Services claims 2.9 million fraudulent enrollments were removed, aligning with the enrollment decline, while critics dispute the report's assumptions and highlight unaffordable costs for consumers.

The Trump administration's Department of Justice has issued a legal opinion challenging the requirement for states to provide home-based services for people with disabilities, reversing a 1999 Supreme Court ruling. This shift has raised fears of reduced support and potential institutionalization among advocacy groups and families like Amanda DeSimone-Shabrack's, who rely on Medicaid-funded home care for her autistic son.

A federal contract providing legal aid to unaccompanied immigrant children is set to expire, leading to concerns about increased deportations. Bryan Chavez, an unaccompanied minor who received legal help, warns that without lawyers, fewer than 10% of children win their immigration cases. The Trump administration has withheld $65 million in funding from Acacia Center for Justice over disputes about sharing sensitive case data.

Medicaid spending on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for autism has surged into the billions, prompting increased scrutiny over fraud and partisan debates over oversight. Republican-led states like Florida have focused on fraud enforcement, while states like Georgia debate reimbursement rates and care access. Federal investigations in Minnesota uncovered multimillion-dollar fraud schemes involving unnecessary or unprovided services.

Medicaid spending on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for autism has surged into the billions, prompting partisan debates over fraud enforcement and access to care. Republican-led states like Florida emphasize oversight, while others like Georgia focus on reimbursement rates. Federal investigations in Minnesota reveal large-scale Medicaid fraud schemes involving unnecessary services and inflated billing.

A bipartisan U.S. Senate committee approved a bill to block the Department of Education from transferring programs related to special education, elementary and secondary education, postsecondary education, and Native American education to other federal agencies. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee passed the measure 13-9, with Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski as sponsors.

A bipartisan U.S. Senate committee advanced a bill to block the Department of Education from transferring programs via interagency agreements, targeting special education and other key areas. The 13-9 vote included support from Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, who opposed moving responsibilities like special education to the Department of Health and Human Services.