The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mission to promote the health and well-being of all Americans. The 2025 HHS Budget proposes $130.7 billion in discretionary and $1.7 trillion in mandatory proposed budget authority for FY 2025. HHS employs more than 80,000 federal employees across the United States and around the world.
The HHS 2025 budget request reaffirms its commitment to support American families, improve behavioral health, and ensure the nation’s readiness for the next public health crisis. The budget works to ensure all Americans have access to affordable healthcare; improve maternal and reproductive health outcomes; strengthen early care and education; address the needs of Indian Country; and advance scientific innovation.
On November 14, 2024, President-Elect Donald Trump made the following announcement on X:
“I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health. The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country. Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!”
Following the announcement, the CEO’s of national health innovation organizations issued the following statements:
BIO is the world’s largest trade association representing biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.
BIO President & CEO John F. Crowley released the following statement:
“A healthy and prosperous society is vitally important to the American people and to the world. The public health, economic security and our national security are best served by strong leadership that respects and advances science, nutrition and medicine and ensures that the United States and our allies continue to lead the world in biotechnology. Indeed, the rich tradition of ‘gold-standard scientific research’ and ‘evidence-based science’ have always been at the core of our life-saving work to prevent, control and cure disease—and to provide access to healthy food security for all. This is the mission of America’s biotechnology companies. I have every confidence that we will continue to thrive and deliver on this important mission ahead. The world cannot wait. We look forward to working closely with President-elect Trump, his incoming Administration, and members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to achieve these mutual goals.”
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading innovative biopharmaceutical research companies, which are laser focused on developing innovative medicines that transform lives and create a healthier world. Together, we are fighting for solutions to ensure patients can access and afford medicines that prevent, treat and cure disease. Over the last decade, PhRMA member companies have invested more than $800 billion in the search for new treatments and cures, and they support nearly five million jobs in the United States.
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) President and CEO Stephen J. Ubl released the following statement on the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):
“The men and women in our industry wake up every day focused on improving public health and treating the most devastating diseases affecting patients. Biopharmaceutical innovation has made tremendous progress in the fight against disease – dramatically improving cancer survival rates, curing hepatitis C, and eliminating devastating diseases like polio and smallpox.
This industry is a crown jewel of the American economy, giving American patients more medicine choices than anywhere else in the world and supporting millions of high-paying, high-tech jobs around the country.
We want to work with the Trump administration to further strengthen our innovation ecosystem and improve health care for patients.
Our industry has long argued the U.S. must do more to address the growing epidemic of chronic disease, which is the biggest driver of health care spending. This will require a comprehensive strategy that includes focusing more on prevention and early intervention; promoting health and wellness; and developing new treatments and cures.
Medicines only work if patients can access them. That’s why policymakers also need to address the misaligned incentives in the system that let insurers, PBMs and large hospital systems pad their profits while forcing patients to pay more than they should for their medicines.
Finally, we must fix the flaws in the so-called Inflation Reduction Act that are undermining our world-leading innovation ecosystem and have already resulted in higher premiums, fewer plan choices and more frustrating insurance denials for Medicare patients.”
The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed), is a trade association that leads the effort to advance medical technology in order to achieve healthier lives and healthier economies around the world. AdvaMed’s member companies range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies. The Association acts as the common voice for companies producing medical devices, diagnostic products and digital health technologies.
AdvaMed, the Medtech Association, today released the following statement from President and CEO Scott Whitaker on President-elect Trump’s intention to nominate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
“I have no doubt Mr. Kennedy has encountered firsthand the power of medical technology in his own life and his family’s. And I look forward to sharing our story with him, about the millions of lives our technologies transform in every care setting across the country. If he is confirmed by the Senate, we look forward to working with him and his team to ensure the policy environment continues to help safe and effective medical technologies get to patients in need.”