The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has terminated six multi-million-dollar grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This announcement comes on the heels of the organization’s public shaming of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health. As the Washington Post covered extensively, these funding cuts were sudden and severe. These cuts have raised a considerable outcry about their effect on many critical health programs that serve children and families across the country.
In a significant policy shift, Kennedy announced that the CDC would cease recommending the Covid-19 vaccine to healthy children and pregnant women. Today’s announcement is a huge step towards making this a standard part of vaccination guidance. This ill-advised decision runs directly counter to AAP’s own recommendations on Covid-19 vaccines. These guidelines have contradicted federal guidance from the very start of Kennedy’s tenure.
Unintended funding cuts affect essential projects aimed at preventing and addressing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. They further obstruct advocacy and policy action for the early identification of autism. Jamie Legier, director of the CDC’s office of grants services, stated in a letter terminating one grant that certain language in the AAP‘s grant materials was “not aligned with current CDC and HHS priorities.” He pointed out that these differences were not accidental but central to the mission of the AAP’s awarded projects.
“These elements are not incidental; they are woven through the title, narrative and work plans of your organization’s award project and define your organization’s project’s objective framework.” – Jamie Legier, director of CDC’s office of grants services
The AAP has been a leader in addressing all of these child health initiatives. They are working to prevent more sudden infant death syndrome deaths and improve access to mental health resources for teens and tweens. Mark Del Monte, CEO of AAP, stated that he has grave concerns over what the funding cuts will mean. He said that this important work is addressing many other key child health priorities.
“This vital work spanned multiple child health priorities, including reducing sudden infant death, rural access to health care, mental health, adolescent health, supporting children with birth defects, early identification of autism, and prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, among other topics.” – Mark Del Monte, AAP CEO
Del Monte stressed that an immediate withdrawal of funds would be disastrous. This could have an immediate adverse impact on the health of infants, children, youth, and their families throughout the United States. In reaction to these actions, AAP is looking at all avenues, including possible legal action.
“The sudden withdrawal of these funds will directly impact and potentially harm infants, children, youth, and their families in communities across the United States. AAP is exploring all available options, including legal recourse, in response to these actions.” – Mark Del Monte, AAP CEO
The ending of funding was sudden and abrupt, blindsiding the AAP. This has alarming implications for transparency and the flow of information between the organization and HHS. Susan J. Kressly, president of AAP, criticized the politicization of health decisions, stating that the organization will not compromise its integrity.
“We won’t lend our name or our expertise to a system that is being politicized at the expense of children’s health.” – Susan J Kressly, AAP president
This is why Kennedy’s approach has drawn criticism from public health advocates, researchers, and even the industry itself, all of whom worry about erosion of public health. He was suggesting that AAP’s priorities could be counter to public health’s larger interests. He further cautioned that these priorities can be distorted by commercial interests related to pharmaceutical donors.
“Reflect public health interest, or are, perhaps, just a pay-to-play scheme to promote commercial ambitions of AAP’s Big Pharma benefactors.” – Robert F Kennedy Jr