Update: What We’re Watching, April 4, 2025

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Update: What We're Watching, April 4, 2025

Hill to the Heartland: Federal Health Policy Briefing

Hill to the Heartland: Federal Health Policy Briefing is a product series providingregular updates on federal health policy discussions. Sign up here to receive these summaries and more, and also follow KHI on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

This week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a reduction in force, cutting 10,000 employees, the majority from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. Congress has resumed work on a budget resolution compromise, which as introduced could result in funding cuts to programs like Medicaid. The ongoing budget negotiations could have significant implications for health policy in Kansas. Here is some of the news we are watching this week that could have impacts to Kansas.

The views expressed in the following news stories, news releases or documents are not necessarily those of the Kansas Health Institute. They are being shared with the intent of keeping Kansans informed of the latest developments related to federal health policy.

1. Reduction in Force at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has begun a reduction in force, cutting 10,000 full-time employees and terminating an additional 5,200 probationary workers, reducing the total from 82,000 employees to 62,000 when combined with retirements and voluntary departures. The restructuring could affect health programs nationwide, including in Kansas. HHS also has announced plans to reduce its 10 regional offices to five.

Read more from NPR: Widespread firings start at federal health agencies including many in leadership

Read more from the Department of Health and Human Services: HHS Announces Transformation to Make America Healthy Again

2. Effects on Kansas Universities

Federal budget changes are impacting higher education in Kansas, with university leaders assessing potential losses in health-related research and medical programs.

Read more from The Topeka Capital-Journal: How are Trump's federal changes affecting Kansas universities? What Regents know

3. Federal Funding Cuts to Health-related Grants in Kansas

The federal government has canceled millions in health-related grants, citing cost savings. This includes a reported $49 million in canceled grants in Kansas, which could impact health initiatives in the state.

Read more from the Topeka-Capital Journal: DOGE cuts health funding to Kansas, claims $49M in savings from canceled grants

4. House and Senate Budget Negotiations Continue

Ongoing federal budget talks will shape future health funding and policy decisions. The House and Senate have both passed budget resolutions and this week announced a compromise resolution that, if adopted, would set the stage for the budget reconciliation process. As introduced, the substitute resolution includes instructions to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid and other programs, to find $880 billion in savings over 10 years. A focus of the debate on the resolution is likely to be the effect an instruction of that scale would have on the Medicaid program and healthcare providers.

Read more from CBS News: Senate Republicans unveil budget resolution key to unlocking Trump agenda

Read more from NBC News: GOP concerns about tax cut strategy and Medicaid loom over Senate budget

Read the Substitute Resolution from Senate.gov: H. Con. Res. 14

Stay tuned for further updates on policy shifts that may affect health programs and services in Kansas.For related work on how federal policies could impactKansans, please check out Hill to the Heartland.

Funding for Hill to the Heartland is provided in part by the Sunflower Foundation: Health Care for Kansans, a Topeka-based philanthropic organization with the mission to serve as a catalyst for improving the health of Kansans. KHIretainseditorial independence in the production of itscontent and its findings.Any views expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Sunflower Foundation.