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Which culinary creation will health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. prepare on the opening episode of his new cooking show? Submit only incorrect guesses.
New CDC Director Nominee Likely to Secure Confirmation
The Senate health committee has approved Erica Schwartz as the new director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her nomination was supported by all Republican members and Democrat Tim Kaine from Virginia, moving her nomination to the full Senate, where confirmation is expected.
Additionally, Sean Kaufman was approved as the pandemic preparedness leader after Chair Bill Cassidy (R-La.) overcame initial reservations to back the Trump administration’s choice. Kaufman is also anticipated to be confirmed.
Cassidy’s support for Kaufman came after previous disagreements over vaccine safety comments, but reassurances from federal health officials eased his concerns. Will this decision, reminiscent of his support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in February 2025, be one he regrets? Read more from STAT’s Chelsea Cirruzzo.
Federal Judge Blocks States’ Attempt to Delay Medicaid Work Requirements
A federal judge has dismissed the request from 26 states to delay the rollout of Medicaid work requirements.
The decision, delivered yesterday, concludes a case that could have impacted a significant legislative goal of President Trump. During a recent hearing, the states argued they lacked the resources to implement these requirements by January 1. However, U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns of Massachusetts disagreed. His ruling mandates that states must inform Medicaid recipients by August 31 about how these changes will affect them individually.
Spreading this information is vital, as nearly 80% of Americans are unaware of these requirements, according to a new poll from the National Alliance on Mental Health and Ipsos.
While states may still use procedural methods to delay, explore Anil Oza’s article for a detailed analysis of this significant ruling and its broader consequences.
Cross-Border Spread of Syphilis During the Pandemic
Why did sexually transmitted infection rates persist despite the suspension of nonessential U.S.-Mexico border crossings during the pandemic?
This question intrigued researchers at the University of California, San Diego, who were excited when an NIH administrator approved a study in San Diego and Tijuana. However, two years later, changes under the Trump administration stopped them from sharing funds with Mexican collaborators. Meanwhile, a shortage of intramuscular penicillin, crucial for treating syphilis, highlighted the vulnerability of unhoused, drug-using populations often involved in their research.
The UCSD team informed STAT’s Eric Boodman that recently, about 10% of their study participants tested positive for active syphilis. For his latest story, Eric visited San Diego to grasp the real-life effects of federal restrictions and medication shortages. He joined Carlos Vera, a UCSD outreach coordinator, and a skeptical unhoused study participant named GB. Read more about the “silent crisis” of unreported STIs.
GAO Report Urges Enhanced Monitoring of Infectious Diseases
The Government Accountability Office recently released a report indicating the need for the United States to strengthen surveillance of emerging infectious diseases.
The GAO gathered insights from 18 experts during roundtable discussions in April and May 2025 to explore strategies for enhancing public health surveillance, collecting further input in the following months. The experts advocated for a comprehensive national strategy to monitor emerging infectious disease threats, emphasizing the significance of tracking factors like wastewater, farm animals, and high-risk populations.
This report coincides with the U.S. nearing the loss of its measles elimination status, while Republican politicians are revisiting the origins of the Covid pandemic and aiming to hold former U.S. health official Anthony Fauci “accountable” for his pandemic management.
Experts also noted that effective public messaging is crucial, stating that a shortage of communication professionals and trusted messengers is a key reason why public health and surveillance messaging remain inadequate.
For further details, here’s the full report.
Patients with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Suffer Due to FDA Inaction
For individuals like Kat Bryant Knudson, who lives with limb girdle muscular dystrophy, each day without a promising therapy results in further muscle loss and reduced mobility. Why is the Food and Drug Administration not utilizing tools provided by Congress to expedite rare disease drug development?
Rare disease treatment is rapidly advancing, with new gene therapies and targeted treatments appearing regularly. The Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act of 2022 empowered the FDA to use platform technology designation to modernize drug development. However, a growing number of patients, clinicians, and advocacy organizations are raising concerns over the agency’s failure to employ this regulatory flexibility.
Discover more about the situation at the FDA from the founder and CEO of The Speak Foundation, a patient-led nonprofit focused on advancing care, research, advocacy, and treatment development for those living with limb girdle muscular dystrophy.
What We’re Reading
- The American Diabetes Association was once lauded for its bravery. How the narrative has shifted, STAT
- U.S. lawmakers question health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding a vaccine settlement, Reuters
- Several states attempted to reverse vaccine laws. Here’s the outcome, New York Times
- Medicaid insurer contracts are at stake in a tight governor’s race, KFF Health News
- The cyclospora outbreak in Michigan may have peaked following a lettuce recall, NBC News
