American health economist and NIH director since 2025
The Senate has held a confirmation hearing for Dr. Erica Schwartz, the nominee to lead the CDC, amid questions about how she would balance scientific independence with pressure from the administration on vaccine policy. Her background spans the Coast Guard and the surgeon general’s office, with the agency facing staffing turmoil and political scrutiny.
The Department of Justice has withdrawn grand jury subpoenas that sought New York Times reporters' testimony and phone records after a federal judge sharply questioned the government's handling of the leak probe into reporting about President Trump's new Air Force One. The DOJ has said the investigation remains ongoing.
Researchers at Stanford and the Arc Institute have used generative genome models to design and synthesise bacteriophage genomes; 16 of the lab-made viruses proved viable and a cocktail of them rapidly killed E. coli strains resistant to natural phages. Experts have warned the work has raised urgent biosafety and biosecurity questions about AI-designed genomes.
The cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce has weighed on U.S. salad chains and suppliers. Sweetgreen and Salad and Go have cut outlooks or filed for bankruptcy amid consumer fears, while Taco Bell is recovering from earlier sales shocks. Recall activity spans Mexico and 27 U.S. states, with health officials tracking the outbreak across the country.
President Trump has signed an executive order directing federal health officials to cut the federal recommended childhood vaccine list, to split the combined MMR vaccine into separate measles, mumps and rubella doses once single‑disease products are available, and to space routine immunisations across separate medical visits. Public health groups and drugmakers have said the changes lack scientific support and will increase missed vaccinations during a major U.S. measles outbreak.
Major U.S. medical societies have published coordinated guidance for flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccinations after the FDA approved updated COVID and flu shots. The American Medical Association and partner groups have compiled evidence and tailored recommendations for age and risk groups while the CDC advisory process remains delayed by political and legal disputes. Enhanced and mRNA flu options are available for older adults.
New data from Truveta shows vitamin K refusals at birth have surged in 2026, driven by political messaging around vaccines. The rate of non-administration increased sharply in the first half of the year, with 81-fold higher risk of life-threatening bleeding without the shot for infants in their first six months. Health officials warn the trend risks newborn lives as US debates policy changes echoed by Kennedy and Trump.
The White House is pressing to give the Office of Management and Budget veto power over NIH grant decisions as part of a broader push to tighten scientific funding. Reports from The Washington Post, The New York Times, Politico, and The Wall Street Journal confirm the effort, with NIH leadership resisting the move. The dynamics involve funding scales, Harvard interests, and legal pushbacks as the administration seeks greater political control. This update follows high-stakes White House discussions and a looming executive order.