House Committee Probes HHS Budget: Members Warn Cuts Could Undermine CDC, NIH and Child‑Care Programs

A central focus of the hearing was the administration’s fiscal plan for HHS and how proposed reductions could affect public‑health preparedness, research and social programs.

Ranking Member Mr. Scott said the White House proposal reduces HHS discretionary authority by about $15.8 billion and cautioned the reductions would weaken the CDC, NIH and programs such as LIHEAP and Head Start. "If these proposed cuts are enacted, they will have devastating consequences for Americans' health and well‑being," he said.

Members asked Kennedy to explain freezing or delaying congressionally appropriated funds to some states and cited specific canceled or paused NIH grants. Kennedy said the department has targeted fraud and program integrity problems, pointing to the state of Minnesota where HHS determined payments for one program ballooned from an expected $7 million to nearly $300 million and said HHS impounded roughly $359 million pending documentation.

Kennedy and committee members also debated SAMHSA and community‑behavioral‑health funding levels; several members urged restoring mental‑health parity enforcement and restoring prevention and school‑based services. On NIH and cancer grants, Kennedy said certain agencies would receive increases in the proposed budget, and he asked members to work with HHS staff to resolve local funding and implementation concerns.

The exchange closed with members from both parties saying they would pursue follow‑up oversight and detailed budgetary documentation; no appropriations decision was made at the hearing.