|
|
In Partnership With:
August 21, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spotlight
|
- On August 8, 2025, a gunman fired more than 180 shots at the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. David Rose, a police officer who responded at the scene, was killed. Twenty public health organizations, including Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), issued a joint statement in response. They stated their solidarity with CDC personnel and denounced acts of harassment, terror, and violence against the public health workforce. They also expressed their grief for the death of police officer Rose. The statement calls on others to support our nation’s dedicated public servants. Read the full statement and view the signatories here.
Separately, a group of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) staff released a letter expressing their concern for America’s health and security in the wake of the attack, as well as their belief that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s past statements and official actions related to public health contributed to the deadly incident. Read the full letter and view the signatories here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Congressional and Administration Updates
|
|
|
|
- HHS announced the beginning of a coordinated wind-down of its mRNA vaccine development activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), including the cancellation of contracts and solicitations. While some final-stage contracts will be allowed to run their course due to prior investment, no new mRNA-based projects will be initiated. Infectious disease experts say the mRNA technology used in vaccines is safe, and they credit its development during the first Trump administration with slowing the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Future pandemics, they warned, will be harder to stop without the help of mRNA. Scientists are using mRNA for more than infectious disease vaccines, with researchers around the world exploring its use for cancer immunotherapies.
- According to an NPR report, CDC will be able to fully fund the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program. The Administration had previously frozen $140 million in funding, which 90 health departments across the country depend on to reduce drug overdoses and related health harms.
-
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that drug and biologic developers can now apply to participate in the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher Pilot Program, which will offer several benefits including enhanced communication throughout the development process and dramatically shortened review times from 10-12 months to 1-2 months. The FDA will select up to five pilot participants during the initial year. Drug and biologic development companies are eligible for the program if they can demonstrate alignment with one or more of the program’s priorities including addressing unmet medical needs, delivering innovative cures, or increasing affordability.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reports and Announcements
|
|
|
|
- August is National Immunization Awareness Month, which highlights the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. This awareness month is an opportunity to understand vaccines’ role in our overall health, their safety record, and how they fit into the larger picture of individual, community, and public health. TFAH has published a new story highlighting the role vaccines play across the lifespan, in disease eradication, and emergency preparedness.
- The latest CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) features the article Emergency Department Survey of Vaccination Knowledge, Vaccination Coverage, and Willingness to Receive Vaccines in an Emergency Department Among Underserved Populations. Analysis found that of those surveyed, 49.9 percent of non-critically ill adults had not heard of at least one CDC recommended vaccine, while 85.9 percent had missed at least one or more. Additionally, 46.4 percent of those in the survey said they would be willing to get at least one vaccine in an emergency department setting. The authors propose that emergency departments could be explored as a setting to offer vaccination screenings, recommendations and referrals.
- A recording of TFAH’s national webinar and congressional briefing on the recently released report, Pain in the Nation 2025: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths is now available. TFAH’s Executive Vice President, Dr. Tekisha Dwan Everette moderated an engaging conversation with Regina LaBelle, Professor of Addiction Policy, Georgetown University, Christina Mullins, Secretary, Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, and Sharon Gilmartin, Executive Director of Safe States Alliance. The webinar discussed steps policymakers should take to sustain the progress in reducing drug, alcohol, and suicide deaths and to ensure the improvements are experienced in all communities.
- TFAH posted a story marking the third anniversary of 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Since its inception, the Lifeline has answered more than 16.5 million calls, texts, and chats. Call volume to the Lifeline in the first two years of its existence was up more than double compared to calls to the 1-800 system it replaced. In addition, call answer rates have improved and wait times have been reduced.
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the results of the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The NSDUH shows how people living in United States reported their experience with mental health conditions, substance use and pursuit of treatment. This year marks the first year since 2020 in which there are at least four years of comparable data for key NSDUH outcomes to enable reporting of trends.
- A recent Congressional Budget Office analysis found that recent cuts to health agencies will result in the production of fewer new drugs. Under hypothetical scenarios of a permanent 10 percent budget cut to the NIH and a nine-month drug review delay at the FDA due to staffing cuts, the CBO found that an estimated 53 drugs would not come to market over that time span.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Open Comment Opportunities, Requests for Information, and Membership Applications
|
|
|
|
- FDA is requesting nominations for voting members to serve on the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC). Individuals may self-nominate or be nominated by any interested person or organization. Specifically, TPSAC is seeking to fill five vacancies with physicians, dentists, scientists, or health care professionals practicing in oncology, pulmonology, cardiology, toxicology, pharmacology, addiction, engineering, or any other relevant specialty. Included in the five vacancies is one vacancy for a representative of the general public, and one vacancy for an employee of federal, state, or local government. Selected members will be invited to serve for terms of up to four years, which will begin on February 1, 2026, after the current members’ terms expire. Nominations are due by August 25, 2025.
- A Federal Register Notice was issued by the Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) announcing the availability of a 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program as a voluntary mechanism for qualifying drug manufacturers to effectuate the 340B ceiling price on select drugs to all covered entities, and to collect comments on the structure and application process of the 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program. OPA is seeking public comment on all aspects of this Notice and the 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program. Specifically, commenters are encouraged to include supporting data and sources underpinning any factual claims. Comments are due September 2, 2025.
- Reminder – FDA issued a proposed rule that, if finalized, would make cigarettes and certain other combusted tobacco products minimally or nonaddictive by limiting the level of nicotine in those products. The agency intends to seek input on the proposal, including through public comment and the FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee. Comments are due September 15, 2025.
|
If your organization submits comments, please share a copy with GIH (info@gih.org) so we can track and compile input from health funders.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
