06-22-25 Federal News Update
Below is a summary of the latest Federal news related to healthcare and medicine. Please note: Federal actions by the current Administration can be reversed or paused at any point by actions of the court. Montgomery County Medical Society will endeavor to keep you updated on this very fluid situation.
Overview
The AMA submitted comments to the Senate on June 20, to express concerns regarding its reconciliation efforts. The letter to Senate leadership cites cuts to Medicaid and CHIP, changes in eligibility criteria, and the exclusion of the House-passed Medicare provisions as threats to patients’ access to care.
‘Surprising’: Experts react to report U.S. plans to weaken alcohol guidance. Recommendation to limit consumption to one or two drinks per day could soon disappear.
What the MAHA report gets right, and wrong, on nutrition. Time will tell the impact of ensuing policies on health.
A federal judge in Texas overturned a Biden administration rule that aimed to keep prosecutors from accessing medical recordsopens in a new tab or window related to legal abortions or gender-affirming care.
HHS
Opinion: Thousands, including my husband, died because of tainted blood. Trump and RFK Jr.’s cuts could return us to an era of poorly monitored blood products.
CDC
Removed ACIP members say ‘U.S. vaccine program critically weakened. All 17 dismissed panelists pen JAMA Viewpoint.
FDA
The FDA placed its top two cell and gene therapy officials – Nicole Verdun, MD, and Rachael Anatol, PhD – on administrative leave.
NIH
Hundreds of NIH grant terminations are ‘void and illegal,’ federal judge rules. The decision by a federal court in Boston hands a temporary victory to researchers. (subscription)
Facing billions of dollars in proposed cuts to research overhead payments from the Trump administration, a coalition of academic groups has devised plans to revamp how the federal government pays for scientific research without sacrificing critical funding. Read more .
Veterans Affairs
VA disputes story asserting that new rules allow docs to discriminate. Recent bylaws update “will have no impact” on who the VA hires or treats, a spokesperson says.