1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

**Oppose Weaponization of Federal Health Grants and Hold HHS Leadership Accountable** I am writing to urge you to take immediate action against the Trump administration's weaponization of federal health funding and to hold HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accountable for actions that directly harm children and families. The Department of Health and Human Services has terminated seven grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization representing 67,000 US pediatricians. These grants totaled millions of dollars and supported critical child health programs including reducing sudden infant death, expanding rural healthcare access, addressing mental health and adolescent health needs, supporting children with birth defects, early identification of autism, and preventing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon confirmed that funding was canceled because these programs no longer align with the department's priorities under Kennedy's leadership. This decision will directly harm infants, children, youth, and their families across the United States. According to AAP CEO Mark Del Monte, the sudden withdrawal of funds threatens programs with proven track records of saving lives and improving health outcomes. Federal health grants should be allocated based on medical evidence and public health need, not political retaliation against organizations that advocate for science-based policy. The timing is particularly dangerous. With measles surging and flu season underway, families need evidence-based guidance from trusted medical professionals. Instead, the administration is defunding the very organizations that provide this expertise. AAP President Dr. Susan Kressly emphasized that families deserve clarity and thoughtful guidance grounded in medical evidence, not ideology. I urge you to investigate these funding terminations, demand transparency about how HHS is reallocating resources meant for child health, and pursue accountability measures including impeachment proceedings against Secretary Kennedy for misusing his authority. Federal agencies must serve the public interest, not political agendas. Our children's health cannot be collateral damage in ideological battles.