Congress Must Stop Politically-Motivated Health Grant Cancellations

Congress Must Oppose Retaliatory Cancellation Of HHS Grants I am writing to urge you to take immediate action in response to the Department of Health and Human Services’ termination of multiple federal grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics, totaling approximately $18 million. These grants supported long-standing public health programs addressing infant mortality, autism screening, fetal alcohol syndrome, and adolescent health. According to reporting by The Washington Post, the terminations followed public criticism by the Academy of policy decisions made by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., raising serious concerns about political retaliation in federal grantmaking. Politicization Of Health Funding Endangers Scientific Integrity Federal grants exist to support evidence-based research and public health programs, not to punish organizations for policy disagreements. Abruptly cutting funding to pediatric health initiatives undermines trusted partnerships between HHS and frontline medical providers and threatens the health of children and families nationwide. Politicizing grant decisions erodes trust, discourages professional advocacy, and weakens the nation’s public health infrastructure. Oversight Needed To Protect Fair And Lawful Grantmaking These actions demand rigorous congressional oversight. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that federal agencies apply grant criteria fairly, transparently, and without regard to political loyalty. Recent large-scale funding rollbacks across HHS and NIH programs have already disrupted public health efforts and alarmed state health officials. Specific Actions Requested Of Congress • Speak out publicly against the use of federal grants as a tool of political retaliation • Support and hold oversight hearings to examine the decision-making process behind these terminations • Introduce legislation prohibiting the termination of federal grants for political or ideological reasons • Establish clear statutory protections for evidence-based public health funding Safeguarding the integrity of federal grant programs is essential to protecting public health, scientific independence, and democratic accountability.