We continue to monitor and assess the rapidly changing developments in the nation’s capital and their potential impact on ACSM’s vision and mission. We are actively looking for opportunities to communicate ACSM’s position and influence decisions regarding the critical importance of scientific research and access to physical activity for all citizens.
Here are the latest updates:
HHS Secretary Nomination Heads to Full Senate. On Jan. 29 and 30, 2025, the Senate Finance and Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committees held confirmation hearings for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services. During both hearings, senators scrutinized Kennedy’s past statements on vaccines, public health and chronic disease. In response, Kennedy sought to clarify his position, asserting that he is not anti-vaccine but “pro-safety,” noting that all of his children are vaccinated. However, Democrats strongly criticized his history of spreading vaccine misinformation, arguing that his rhetoric has undermined public trust in public health initiatives. Some Republicans also voiced concerns but were generally more open to his nomination, focusing instead on his broader health care priorities.
Beyond the vaccine debate, Kennedy emphasized his commitment to addressing chronic disease, improving food safety and reducing conflicts of interest within health agencies. He advocated for enhancing health care quality while lowering costs, promoting value-based care models and expanding the health care workforce. Additionally, he expressed support for increasing access to telemedicine, ensuring primary care providers have adequate resources to manage chronic conditions, lowering drug prices and fostering greater diversity in medical research and clinical trials.
A recording of the Senate Finance Committee hearing is available here. A recording of the Senate HELP hearing is available here.
On Feb. 4, 2025, the Senate Finance Committee voted 14-13 along party lines to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for secretary of Health and Human Services. All Republican members supported the nomination, while Democrats opposed it. Supporters, including Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), highlighted Kennedy’s commitment to improving nutrition policies and increasing agency transparency. Kennedy also pledged to keep existing vaccine information on agency websites, explicitly committing not to remove CDC statements affirming that vaccines do not cause autism. Additionally, he vowed to operate within the current vaccine approval and safety monitoring systems rather than establish alternative frameworks. The nomination now proceeds to the full Senate, where Republicans hold a majority, with a confirmation vote expected in the coming days.
Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan and Other Financial Assistance Programs. On Jan. 27, 2025, the Trump administration, through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), issued a memorandum titled Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs to the heads of executive departments and agencies. The memo directed federal agencies to temporarily halt all activities related to the obligation or disbursement of federal financial assistance, particularly those affected by the administration’s executive orders. These included funding for foreign aid; nongovernmental organizations; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives; gender policies; and programs associated with the Green New Deal. A footnote in the memo clarified that Medicare and Social Security benefits would not be affected. However, the omission of Medicaid from this exemption led to confusion regarding whether the program was included in the funding pause.
On Jan. 28, 2025, OMB issued guidance clarifying that the pause applied only to federal financial assistance programs impacted by President Trump’s executive orders, rather than all federal aid. The guidance also specified that programs providing direct benefits to individuals, including Social Security, Medicare and mandatory programs like Medicaid, would continue without interruption.
The funding pause was set to take effect on Jan. 28, 2025, at 5 p.m. However, just minutes before it was to be implemented, a U.S. district judge in Washington, D.C., issued an administrative stay, delaying the pause until Feb. 3, 2025, at 5 p.m.
On Jan. 29, 2025, OMB rescinded the memorandum. Despite this, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on the social media platform X that the rescission applied only to the memo itself — not the underlying funding freeze. She emphasized that President Trump’s executive orders on federal funding remained in effect and would be strictly enforced. With the court injunction in place, any potential freeze on federal programs is delayed at least until Feb. 3, 2025, though uncertainty remains regarding which programs will ultimately be impacted. The rescinded OMB memo is available here. The district court’s order for an administrative stay is available here.
On Feb. 11, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston unanimously rejected the administration’s emergency bid to reinstate the freeze, upholding an earlier ruling by U.S. District Judge John McConnell that ordered the administration to lift the spending freeze. This legal action originated from a lawsuit filed by 22 Democratic state attorneys general opposing an OMB directive to pause grant and aid funding.
Despite the administration’s efforts, the courts have consistently blocked the spending freeze, citing concerns over its legality and potential harm. The administration has argued that the freeze is necessary to review discretionary spending programs and address issues of waste and abuse. However, the judiciary has maintained that such actions must align with existing laws and congressional appropriations.
The situation remains dynamic, with ongoing legal proceedings and potential implications for various federal programs and aid recipients.
NIH Announces 15% Facilities and Administration Rate. In a notice issued on Feb. 7, 2025, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the application of a 15% Facilities and Administration (F&A) rate for all existing and new grants to institutions of higher education, effective Feb. 10. This decision directly conflicts with previously negotiated rates between institutions and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). For most research institutions, the new flat rate represents at least a 50% reduction in funding that supports essential research infrastructure, including maintenance of shared equipment, compliance with patient privacy and research security regulations, and utilities such as biohazardous materials management.
On the morning of Feb. 10, attorneys general from 22 states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, DHHS and NIH arguing that the policy was unlawfully imposed. Later that evening, around 6 p.m., a federal district court judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing DHHS and NIH from enforcing the new F&A rate in the 22 states involved in the lawsuit. However, the 15% rate remains in effect in other states, and future legal rulings could ultimately determine whether DHHS and NIH will be permitted to fully implement the policy nationwide.