Julie Rovner is the chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News’ podcast, “What the Health?” She has written extensively on health policy and is the author of the well-received book “Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z,” now in its third edition.
The second term of Trump’s presidency began with significant changes at the Department of Health and Human Services. A standard pause on communications transformed into a halt on scientific work. Meetings, travel, and outside publications were all canceled, and the duration of this order remains uncertain. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to head the department, will face Senate confirmation hearings at the end of the month.
On his first day, President Trump quickly moved to reverse many of Biden’s policies. Interestingly, one area he did not address was abortion, which typically garners attention during party transitions.
This week’s panel features Julie Rovner from KFF Health News, Alice Miranda Ollstein from Politico, Rachel Roubein from The Washington Post, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang from Stat.
Key takeaways from this week’s discussion include:
- The Trump administration has taken a strong hold on federal agencies, canceling meetings and travel, creating uncertainty in essential functions like grant application reviews.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation as Health and Human Services secretary is set for January 29 and 30. However, concerns have arisen regarding potential conflicts of interest stemming from his financial ties to ongoing litigation with Merck & Co. over the HPV vaccine.
- This week, Trump signed several executive orders. These include withdrawing from the World Health Organization, reversing Biden’s drug price reduction initiative, and taking steps that could impact healthcare for transgender individuals. Notably absent were any actions concerning abortion.
In addition, Julie interviewed Rodney Whitlock, a consultant and adjunct faculty at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health. Whitlock shared insights on Congress’s budget reconciliation process, which can often be complex and confusing.
The panelists also recommended notable health policy stories from the week:
Julie Rovner: “With Bird Flu Cases Rising, Certain Kinds of Pet Food May Be Risky for Animals — And People” by Brenda Goodman on CNN.
Rachel Roubein: “Antiabortion Advocates Look for Men To Report Their Partners’ Abortion” by Caroline Kitchener in The Washington Post.
Rachel Cohrs Zhang: “In Florida, a Rebellion Against Fluoride Is Winning” by Fenit Nirappil in The Washington Post.
Alice Ollstein: “Now That You Can Return Home After the Fires, How Do You Clean Up Safely?” by Karen Garcia and Tony Briscoe in The Los Angeles Times.
Additionally, the podcast mentioned the Texas Tribune’s piece on the passing of Cecile Richards, former Planned Parenthood president, after her battle with brain cancer.
KFF Health News provides in-depth reporting on health issues and is part of KFF, a trusted source for health policy research and journalism.
