E&C Democrats Demand Answers After HHS Abruptly Cancels Grant Funding for American Academy of Pediatrics
Funding Cancelation Appears to Be in Retaliation for Pediatricians’ Opposition to Secretary Kennedy’s Efforts to Restrict Access to Vaccines for Children
Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) wrote to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. today raising serious questions after the alarming cancelation of nearly $12 million in grant funding for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
The abrupt grant elimination included funding for research and services for birth defects in children, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders, newborn hearing screening programs, partnerships to address the health of pregnant and postpartum women as well as adolescents and young adults, and early autism screening.
“This destructive action is clearly retribution against the AAP for their vigorous criticism of the Trump Administration’s vaccine policies that are putting children’s lives at risk,” Pallone, DeGette, and Clarke wrote. “The Administration’s policies fail to reflect the scientific and medical consensus regarding the safety and efficacy of vaccines.”
HHS’s public rationale for canceling the grants argued the awards were “no longer in alignment” with the stated HHS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Health Resources and Services Administration priority areas—a claim the Democrats called a dubious justification that smacks of alarming political retribution at the expense of the health and wellness of children.
“The abrupt termination of grants that support vital public health programs in what appears to be retaliation for advocacy is deeply concerning and sets a dangerous precedent,” the Democratic Committee leaders continued. “For many of these programs, AAP was one of many awardees under a given program, but it was the only awardee to have its funding terminated. Most importantly, this act of political retaliation will have real consequences for the children, families, and providers who benefit from the terminated programs.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics represents more than 67,000 pediatricians across the country and has been a trusted resource for science-based pediatric care, recommendations, research, and resources for nearly 95 years.
As part of their oversight request, the Democrats requested documents and answers to a series of questions by February 6, 2026.
Read the full letter HERE.
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