Released last Friday, the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposes significant reductions to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), alongside a major restructuring of federal public health programs. The proposal includes cuts to key agencies and, similarly to last year’s Presidential budget, the creation of a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA), signaling a shift in how public health funding is allocated and managed. The budget proposes $111.1 billion for HHS, a $15.8 billion or 12.5% reduction from the FY 2026 enacted level.

What happened:

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) would be reduced by $5 billion, with the budget’s text citing the agency “broke the trust of the American people with wasteful spending, misleading information, risky research, and the promotion of dangerous ideologies that undermine public health”. Among other reforms at the NIH, specific institutes or centers the proposal would eliminate include the Fogarty International Center (FIC) and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). 
• Broader restructuring efforts would consolidate and eliminate programs across the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) relating to “DEI ideologies”. HRSA's Public Health Training Centers (PHTC) would also be eliminated. Remaining programs across these agencies, including CDC's Prevention Research Centers (PRC), would operate under a consolidated AHA. 
• While the budget language is somewhat contradictory, the budget proposes to cut the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) by $105.85 million, leaving them approximately $239.53 million.

Why this matters for public health:

• Consolidation under AHA could fundamentally change how public health programs are administered, with potential impacts on funding streams, workforce programs, and community-based initiatives. Reductions to NIH and broader cuts across HHS may limit research capacity, weaken public health infrastructure, and disrupt training pipelines.
• These proposed funding levels contrast with ASPPH’s FY 2027 priorities, which call for increased investments in NIH, CDC, and HRSA to strengthen research, prevention, and the public health workforce. ASPPH will continue to advocate for these programs and funding levels despite the President’s Budget proposal. 
• Given that Congress chose not to make many of these same reductions in the FY 2026 Labor HHS & Education Appropriations bill, it is less likely that these budget cuts will be included in the final FY 2027 bill.

The public comment period has closed on proposed federal requirements that would condition funding on compliance with new diversity, equity, and inclusion-related certifications. The proposal has drawn significant opposition from higher education organizations and stakeholders.

What happened:

• The public comment period for the General Services Administration (GSA) proposal ended last Monday, with nearly 22,000 comments submitted by several organizations including the American Council on Education (ACE), the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public & Land Grant Universities (APLU), and the Council on Government Relations (COGR). 
• Federal agencies are expected to review and respond to the public comments before issuing a final rule or revised guidance.
• The proposal would require institutions to certify compliance with federal interpretations of nondiscrimination law, with potential loss of funding for violations. Higher education groups raised concerns that the requirements are vague, legally contested, and could broadly affect research funding and institutional practices.

Why it matters for academic public health:

• Schools and programs of public health rely heavily on federal funding streams, including research grants and student aid, which could be affected by new certification requirements.
• Uncertainty around compliance may create administrative burdens and risks for institutions navigating evolving federal guidance. The proposal could affect academic freedom, research priorities, and training environments, all of which are critical to preparing the future public health workforce.
• ASPPH is monitoring this situation and will continue to provide relevant updates.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has appointed a career civil servant, Dr. Elisabeth Armstrong, as its new chief of staff following the recent resignation of a political appointee. The move reflects continued leadership changes at the agency over the past few months.

What happened:

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) named Dr. Elisabeth Armstrong, a former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official, as chief of staff in the Office of the Director.
• Dr. Armstrong replaces Seana Cranston, a political appointee who resigned earlier this month, marking another shift in senior leadership.
• The appointment returns the role to a career official, consistent with past norms, amid a pattern of recent staffing changes across the agency.

Why it matters for public health:

• Leadership stability at NIH is critical for guiding biomedical research priorities and coordinating federal science efforts.
• Repeated turnover may affect continuity in policy direction, operations, and research funding decisions.
• The appointment of a career official may help reinforce institutional expertise and support ongoing public health research and innovation.

The White House reaffirmed its support for Dr. Casey Means as US surgeon general after President Trump signaled he may reconsider her nomination. The nomination remains stalled in the Senate amid bipartisan concerns raised during her confirmation hearing.

What happened:

• President Trump said he was considering “a lot of different things” and did not rule out withdrawing Dr. Means’s nomination, citing uncertainty about her progress in the Senate.
• The White House later reaffirmed its support and urged the Senate to move forward with confirmation.
• The nomination has stalled as senators raised concerns about her vaccine views and past statements, with no confirmation vote scheduled.

Why it matters for public health:

• The surgeon general serves as a key national voice on public health, and delays may slow federal communication on major health issues.
• Concerns raised during the confirmation process highlight the importance of scientific credibility and clear public health messaging.
• Ongoing uncertainty may affect federal leadership on priorities such as chronic disease prevention and vaccine confidence.

Environmental and public health groups have filed a lawsuit challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rollback of strengthened mercury pollution standards for coal-fired power plants. The repeal reverses Biden-era updates to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards and raises concerns about increased toxic exposures.

What happened:

• A coalition of environmental and public health organizations sued the EPA over its repeal of updated Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for coal-fired power plants.
• The rollback removed stricter mercury limits, eased standards for certain coal types, and eliminated continuous emissions monitoring requirements.
• The legal challenge comes amid broader pressure on the EPA from advocacy groups, including those aligned with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, urging stronger action on chemical exposures and environmental health risks.

Why it matters for public health:

• Mercury exposure is linked to neurological and developmental harm, making weaker emissions standards a direct risk to population health.
• The case reflects broader tensions between environmental deregulation and public health protections, with implications for air quality and health equity.
• ASPPH’s Climate Change and Health initiative highlights the need for evidence-based policies to reduce harmful exposures and strengthen the public health workforce response.

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