“The opposition has been wide ranging spanning academic researchers, artists, city leaders, civil engineers, housing experts, state attorneys general & regular Americans, who have warned that the White House could imperil public services if it subjects federal grants to political review.” YES!

Quick check, how is this working out?

Senator Cassidy, where was this vigor in questioning when RFK Jr was up for confirmation??? (Rhetorical question)

Sen Alsobrooks notes that Dr. Schwartz is immensely qualified, but she is worried that Dr. Schwartz will have to compromise her scientific values to do this job, and Alsobrooks warns her of that.

It says a lot that this hearing is about asking candidates to comment on settled science (Vit K, Hep B, Vaccines and autism) rather than how these candidates plan on moving public health and emergency preparedness into the 21st century.

The expertise of these candidates is not coming through. What is coming through are the administration's talking points and core beliefs. This should concern everyone. The CDC serves the nation, not just those who voted for one candidate over another

Dr. Schwartz agrees the US doesn't need to be part of the WHO but supports the Trump Administration's America First Global strategy. We don't know much about this, but we know this isn't a massive worldwide effort to protect public health, period.

Sen Kim notes the low morale at CDC and wonders how the new director will address this: Dr. Schwartz gives an anecdote about her time in the Coast Guard about being trusted in her role, suggesting her first goal would be to develop trust with the career civil servants....that's a non-answer

Tuberville believes kids get too many vaccines in the first few years of life. Ok, we'll bite- what's the evidence for why this number of vaccines is harmful? We will wait (that's right- there isn't any because these are life-saving and effective vaccines )

Dr. Schwartz is asked how she would implement the recommendations of ACIP when they come past her desk? (The ACIP charter states the director makes the change & then informs the HHS Secretary). She really believes that tRFK Jr wouldn't ask her to do anything the ACIP doesn't recommend- RED FLAG

Dr. Schwartz really believes the President would never ask her to break the law? RED FLAG RED FLAG RED FLAG

Sen Kain admits he casts votes for nominees he later regrets, but he also notes he regrets not voting for some nominees, including Susan Monarez. Why? Because she said she wouldn't have to stand up to Trump & RFK Jr which ended up happening, but she absolutely stood up to them. Caution Dr. Schwartz!

Sen Baldwin goes right in to ask if mRNA (including COVID) vaccines are safe and effective- Kaufman and Dr. Schwartz both state they are safe and effective technologies.

Next- Lisa Murkowski- brings up the elimination of Hep B in several rural communities in AK due to the Hep B birthdose and wants to know if Kaufman supports the birthdose. He states he supports this vaccine and shares that all 3 of his children received it.

Cassidy opens by asking how she plans to maintain scientific integrity and handle pushback from the HHS Secretary. He specifically wants to know if she will have the ability to remove or demote people free of political interference- she can't exactly answer the question, and Cassidy is pushing

Notably, both candidates share their full confidence in vaccines- this is a good start

Sean Kaufman is the White House nominee for Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that was recently absorbed under the CDC. He comes out strong for vaccines, perhaps we are getting somewhere

Dr. Shwartz, JD ( she has an MD, MPH, and JD- that's so bad a**). She comes from a family of service members, including herself, in the army, navy, coast guard, and more. She has been deployed to many natural disasters as an epidemiologist as well as the medical director of the coast guard.

Sanders recaps how we ended up here, and that is because Dr. Susan Monarez was removed for not complying with RFK Jr.'s wishes concerning evidence-based information on vaccines. And what has resulted: measles, Ebola, food-borne outbreaks. We need a leader for the CDC STAT

Should be interesting as the CDC chief of staff and acting cdc director are out. So without her confirmation we are back to square 1

500,000 comments!!!!

PHASE ONE of our fight against the OMB rule is complete and YOU ALL SHOWED UP!!! HALF A MILLION COMMENTS is WILD. We absolutely exceeded our goal of 100,000! So, what happens next??? Welcome to PHASE TWO: Pressure and Preparation! 1/x

There are over 300,000 comments on the rule and you have until midnight to get yours in!

This is great news! Trans health is public health!

In my @newrepublic.com debut, I argue that Dems' good faith efforts to spare voters from the worst of HR1/OBBBA may backfire by obscuring for voters how reckless a law it was. This will demand that Dems effectively communicate & take victory laps over burden reduction newrepublic.com/article/2125...

“It could take at least a year for OMB to respond to the comments and amend the draft rule”. Friends, this is a direct result of our collective action. The OMB Rule that would require political review of grants has prompted at least 50K comments. Thanks to all who commented, and you still can.

I’d say scientists are ENRAGED with this proposed rule…

Vought's political officers will cripple the science that benefits Americans. Congress is bipartisan on this issue. Your comments here will encourage encourage them to act (CLICK THIS): regulations.gov/document/OMB-2026-0034-0001 >98,000 so far. CLOSES **MONDAY**

I must be living under a rock because I did not know @jasmineclarkforga.bsky.social had a PhD! A woman in STEM running for congress- yes!!!

Do you want political appointees within federal agencies deciding on grant funding? Or suspending/terminating grants without warning? How about controlling how grant work is done? No? Neither do we. Comment period closes on Monday 7/13. Go give ‘em hell til it does.

@bruceylee.bsky.social spitting the truth about the OMB rule: “So, assuming that you are a human and not a duvet cover or ficus plant, you may want to pay close attention to what’s happening.” Comments are due by July 13 (Monday!)

“In July 2025, the CDC made tracking cyclospora optional, as part of scaling back its Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network. At the time, food safety experts worried that it could make it harder to identify and respond to outbreaks.”

$1.1 trillion in federal grants is on the line, including Medicaid, Head Start, and community health centers. Learn about a free tool that I built to help you write your public comment in <5 minutes. 🔗 drruth.substack.com/p/i-built-yo... Deadline: July 13. Every voice counts. #medsky #2CFR200

These are the headlines in @kffhealthnews.org - looks like we are really making America healthy again, E. Coli, Cyclosporasis, yikes🤦‍♀️

It’s summer in the city. Take heed!

Need some help writing your comment to the OMB rule that will impact all federal contracts and grants across the govt? Here is a guide from @defendpublichealth.bsky.social and be sure to submit the comment by July 13, 2026

Can't get away from it. Worked on writing abt the OMB rule and wanted a break. Turned on West Wing: Season 5, Episode 16--Eppur Si Muove, from 2004. It's about political interference in NIH research. Will this ever change? We must stop the #OMB. See www.defendpublichealth.org/campaign/cri...

"There is, at least in some quarters, a very strong undercurrent of glee in standing against the Jews -- a sensation that people are throwing off shackles that had constrained them." So much this ⤴️⤴️

Uh this is demonstrable false“The NIH has become a government entity captured by special-interest groups — just as Friedman feared 46 years ago.” And more importantly Scott Atlas should sit down. Hi premise would end scientific advancement as we know it in the US

“Take Five” by Dave Brubeck Quartet was recorded 67 years ago today. Two years later it became a surprise hit and the biggest-selling jazz single ever.

Clarence Thomas says the 14th Amendment should be read narrowly because it was written for formerly enslaved people. By that logic, the 2nd Amendment was written for muskets, not AR-15s. Funny how that kind of originalism only shows up when it's convenient.

Hegseth proudly announced that the flu vaccine would no longer be required for people serving in the military. A flu outbreak is now happening at Lackland Air Force Base, and flu vaccinations are again required. The AF has now been forced to admit that a 25-year-old recruit has died of influenza.

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck!

Lovely, now Marburg makes an appearance

Reports of #Marburg Uganda, while a major #Bundibugyo #Ebola outbreak continues in DRC and Uganda, highlight a reality we've long feared: our outbreak preparedness systems remain poorly equipped to respond to multiple high-consequence pathogens at the same time. www.statnews.com/2026/06/30/m...

Matching outrage with outrage isn’t the answer but we must figure out how to thread the needle on getting accurate evidenced based scientific information to the masses

Cassidy has some leverage here- will he use it???

Always hard to learn of new treatments for an illness you've already lost loved ones to. My father died of melanoma, but I hope this vaccine brings relief to anyone who needs it.

Russell Vought appears before Apps Committee this am as Trump proposes a rule to take control over federal grant-making and use it as leverage to enforce compliance with the whims of his administration. 🤬 @moneypowerpolitics.bsky.social @defendpublichealth.bsky.social @bethlinas.bsky.social

Happy to see towns/counties/States taking note of this scary OMB rule. Comment by July 13th!!! www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...