Kennedy probes intensify as lawmakers demand accountability; Health Secretary Kennedy Jr. faces oversight amid shifts in health policy and administration.
The Fauci diaries have intensified scrutiny of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. A Senate panel has voted to hold him in contempt for refusing to answer questions, while states push for records. Republicans argue for accountability; Democrats defend the former NIH director amid a renewed focus on origins, lockdowns, and media coverage.
The Trump administration has urged states to separate the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into individual shots. Several officials caution that doing so could fuel vaccine hesitancy and leave immunity gaps while some leaders push for more personal choice in immunization policies. New reporting shows the policy debate is unfolding amid mixed messages from health agencies and political leaders.
The Justice Department and FBI have seized web domains for two hacking platforms, QScan and QTRouter, that investigators say a China-linked group, QTFY, used since 2018 to hide the origin of intrusions into US government agencies and private firms including DOE labs, NIH, NASA, the Federal Reserve and the US Senate.
General Mills has shifted to natural colorings derived from fruits, vegetables and spices in most U.S. cereals. About 90% of U.S. retail products are now free of artificial dyes, with remaining items set to convert by end-2027. Kellogg has followed suit, and other major brands have pledged to remove synthetic dyes amid regulatory and consumer pressure.
Major US medical societies have issued unified guidance this week for flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines after the CDC’s advisory process has been disrupted. Updated COVID shots have FDA approval and manufacturers are shipping doses, but legal and policy disputes over federal recommendations continue to leave states and insurers uncertain about timing and coverage.
Meta has reached an $18 billion settlement over teen-time limits. The agreement ties $5.3 billion to peers joining similar measures, with pressuring others like TikTok and YouTube to follow suit. Snap’s CEO comments and new features for Specs are underscoring a broader push toward digital well‑being amid scrutiny of youth mental health.
Saphier has been nominated to serve as surgeon general. She is navigating questions about vaccine policy, credentials, and potential conflicts of interest as lawmakers scrutinize her readiness to lead public health messaging.
The White House has used a pocket rescission to cancel funding across 11 programs and agencies, arguing some spending is no longer necessary. The Government Accountability Office says the tactic is illegal if Congress has not approved the action, raising constitutional questions and prompting Democratic and Republican lawmakers to weigh next steps.
The administration has moved to allow some popular, yet unproven, injectable peptides to be temporarily manufactured by specialty pharmacies. The plan, still subject to White House review, would use enforcement discretion to avoid immediate enforcement of current restrictions, while a formal rulemaking process could take years.
The White House has reviewed a policy directed at peptides used in wellness, after pushback from FDA scientists warning it could undercut safety. Kennedy’s HHS pushed a plan to curb enforcement against compounding pharmacies that sell peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500, with comments invited for two weeks.
Health Secretary Kennedy has announced up to $4.9 million to prepare U.S. studies of ibogaine for PTSD in veterans, with safety concerns and regulatory constraints noted; the program aims to accelerate clinical trials while exploring broader uses for addiction.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced a six-month transition period to prepare systems for Medicaid work requirements, delaying denial of benefits and giving states time to modernize enrollment processes. The move follows court rulings and political pressure as Democrats consider further delays or scrapping the rule.