Secretary Kennedy Cancels mRNA Vaccine Contracts
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy this week announced his decision to cancel nearly $500 million in mRNA research and product contracts with American vaccine manufacturers. While some contracts that are near completion will proceed, Kennedy announced that “no new mRNA-based projects will be initiated.” In the press release announcing the decision, Kennedy says the cancellation is justified “…because the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu.”
His action follows a decision last month to cancel a $600 million contract with vaccine manufacturer Moderna to develop a bird flu vaccine.
In response to Kennedy’s decision, the ATS has issued a statement opposing the decision, stating that “messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are proven, lifesaving tools backed by decades of research. Secretary Kennedy’s decision to halt mRNA research and production contracts undermines public health, science and epidemic preparedness. As physicians and scientists, the American Thoracic Society urges Secretary Kennedy to reverse course for the safety of all Americans.”
Research
GAO Finds NIH Broke the Law in Canceling NIH Grants
The Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent, non-partisan agency that provides technical advice to Congress, issued a report finding that the National Institutes of Health violated the Impoundment Control Act when it terminated nearly 1800 grants and canceled NIH study section meetings in early 2025. The report documents how the Trump administration failed to follow the legal requirements set forth in the Impoundment Control Act, which requires the administration to notify Congress of its intent to delay or rescind programmatic funding approved by Congress.
The report notes the Impoundment Control Act “…allows the President to withhold funds from obligation, but only under strictly limited circumstances…” and further notes that “based on publicly available evidence and the lack of any special message pertaining to NIH funds, GAO concludes that NIH violated the (act) by withholding funds from obligation and expenditure.”
The Trump administration termination of NIH approved grants has been challenged in federal court (APHA et al v. NIH) and a Massachusetts federal judge has ruled that the NIH illegally terminated the grants. The Trump administration has appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Clean Air
ATS Submits Comments Opposing Rollback of GHG Rule for Power Plants
The ATS joined with the American Lung Association and several other medical and public health organizations in submitting public comments opposing the Environmental Protection Agency proposed rule to rescind the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standard for power plants. Earlier this summer, the E.P.A. issued a proposed rule to rescind the GHG emissions standards for power plants finalized by the Biden administration, which established the first-ever limits on GHG emissions from U.S. powerplants. In addition to limiting GHG emissions, the Biden-era GHG rules would have had the additional benefit of reducing other types of air pollution from powerplants, including particulate matter and its precursors.
The Trump administration justifies the rollback of the GHG powerplant emissions rule by noting that U.S. power plants are responsible for only two percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions and thus argues that the rule would have minimal impact on global GHG emissions. It should be noted that U.S. powerplants are responsible for 25 percent of total GHG emissions – second behind U.S. transportation GHG emissions.