HHS terminates grants to American Academy of Pediatrics
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has terminated grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), an organization representing 67,000 pediatricians, which has been critical of the agency’s positions and engaged in ongoing disputes with officials, including legal battles, reports BritPanorama.
This decision was announced on Wednesday, with HHS revealing that seven grants under its purview would no longer be funded. Mark Del Monte, CEO of the AAP, confirmed that these grants were essential for multiple child health initiatives, including efforts to reduce sudden infant death syndrome and enhance mental health services for children.
Del Monte emphasized the significant impact on community health, stating, “The sudden withdrawal of these funds will directly impact and potentially harm infants, children, youth, and their families in communities across the United States.” He mentioned that the AAP is exploring all legal options in response to this funding termination while remaining committed to supporting the health of young people.
The grants in question are part of a broader pattern, as HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon noted that multiple medical organizations have faced similar funding cuts. Nixon stated, “These grants were canceled along with a number of other grants to other organizations because they no longer align with the Department’s mission or priorities.”
The funding cancellations, totaling millions, were first reported by the Washington Post. The AAP has been at odds with HHS, particularly under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose administration has shifted focus to areas including chronic diseases and what has been termed “gender ideology.”
In recent months, the AAP has taken significant steps to differentiate its public health stance, particularly regarding childhood vaccinations. Earlier this year, the AAP publicly diverged from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding recommendations for the Covid-19 vaccine for children.
In a related matter, the AAP has filed legal action against the CDC, asserting that recent changes to immunization recommendations infringe on the Administrative Procedure Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The legal context has intensified with the surging cases of diseases such as measles, leading AAP President Dr. Susan Kressly to call for “thoughtful, deliberative guidance grounded in medical evidence.”
The situation reflects growing tensions between federal health policy and pediatric organizations amid evolving public health challenges. It remains to be seen how these funding changes will further influence the landscape of child health initiatives in the United States.
