This Week in Policy – Wrap up for the week of March 17, 2025
HHS Employee Layoffs Temporarily Reversed by Judge: A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s planned layoffs of roughly 5,200 probationary employees at the Department of Health and Human…
Protecting Science: How Hospital Leaders Can Safeguard Research Funding in a Shifting Political Climate
The Trump administration has initiated significant changes affecting federally funded research, particularly targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. At NYU Langone Health, employees have been directed to avoid DEI-related…
Dr. Oz’s Nomination: Potential Impact on What It Means for Healthcare and Hospitals
President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has sparked debate over its potential impact on Medicare, Medicaid, and healthcare…
Beyond the Lab: The Hidden Economic Impact of NIH Budget Cuts
The recent funding freeze imposed by DOGE on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has had a significant impact on various states and universities across the United States. The funding…
New Tariffs Threaten to Inflate Hospital Operating Costs
The recent announcement by President Donald Trump to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada is poised to significantly affect the U.S. healthcare sector, particularly hospitals and…
The Cost of Cuts: What Fewer VA Employees Means for Veterans Seeking Care
Today, DOGE revealed that it plans to cut over 80,000 employees from the Department of Veterans Affairs and return to 2019 staffing levels. The VA last year experienced its highest-ever…
Policy Shifts Without Warning: Why Healthcare Leaders Must Prepare for Faster Rule Changes
On March 3, 2025, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. rescinded the 54-year-old “Richardson Waiver,” a policy that mandated public comment periods for certain departmental…
RFK Jr. HHS Senate Hearing
Despite being considered a controversial nomination to lead Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. brings a background in environmental law and advocacy, having spent decades as an attorney…
President Trump’s DEI Order Puts Health System Research at Risk
President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting DEI in federally funded programs is raising concerns for health systems that rely on research grants to advance patient care, medical innovation, and workforce…
Public Health Implications from the U.S. Exit from WHO
The United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) introduces significant challenges for health systems, particularly in global health security, research collaboration, and public health funding. Key Implications for…