1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

I am writing to demand an immediate investigation into what appears to be clear retaliation by the Department of Health and Human Services against the American Academy of Pediatrics. HHS terminated seven multimillion-dollar grants to the AAP without prior notice after the organization publicly criticized Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr's policies and issued Covid-19 vaccine recommendations that diverged from his guidance. This represents a blatant violation of free speech and an abuse of federal power that warrants your urgent attention and action, including consideration of impeachment proceedings against Secretary Kennedy. The terminated grants supported critical child health programs addressing sudden infant death reduction, rural healthcare access, mental health services, adolescent health, birth defects support, early autism identification, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder prevention. AAP CEO Mark Del Monte stated that this sudden withdrawal will directly harm infants, children, youth, and their families across the United States. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon claimed the grants no longer aligned with departmental priorities, specifically citing the AAP's use of language addressing racial disparities and the term "pregnant people." The timeline reveals the retaliatory nature of these actions. After Kennedy removed Covid-19 vaccines from CDC recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women, the AAP issued its own guidance maintaining these recommendations. AAP President Susan J Kressly stated in June that the organization would not lend its expertise to a system being politicized at the expense of children's health. Kennedy then publicly questioned whether the AAP's recommendations served public health or pharmaceutical interests. The AAP joined other major medical associations in filing a lawsuit against HHS to challenge Kennedy's vaccine changes. Shortly thereafter, HHS terminated the grants. Using federal funding as a weapon against organizations that exercise their First Amendment rights and advocate for evidence-based medical guidance sets a dangerous precedent. I urge you to launch a congressional investigation into this retaliation and to seriously consider impeachment proceedings against Secretary Kennedy for abuse of power. Our children's health cannot be held hostage to political vendettas.