With CDC in free fall, RFK Jr. faces bipartisan rebuke at Senate hearing Kennedy calls CDC “the most corrupt agency at HHS and maybe the government.”

NIH Director Bhattacharya named acting CDC director in latest public health shakeup
The temporary appointment concentrates vast authority in the hands of one person

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya has taken a second big job.

February 20, 2026

HHS withdraws 340B drug rebate pilot program

HHS is withdrawing the “340B Rebate Model Pilot Program” that was intended to go into effect on Jan. 1, according to a joint motion filed last week.

HPV cancer vaccine slows tumor growth, extends survival in animal models

Throughout the past decade, Northwestern University scientists have uncovered a striking principle of vaccine design: Performance depends not only on vaccine components but also on vaccine structure.

February 13, 2026

Vol.52 No.06

Capitol Hill

After a brief government shutdown, FY26 funding bill is signed into law
NIH gets $415M raise, NCI gets $128M more, CDMRP funding largely restored

On Feb. 3, the House of Representatives passed the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, by a vote of 217 to 214. Later that day, President Donald Trump signed the bill into law, officially ending the brief partial government shutdown that began on Jan. 31.

NIH’s Bhattacharya acknowledges absence of causal link between vaccines and autism

Pressed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya acknowledged that he is not aware of any study pointing to a causal link between vaccines and autism.

“There is no safe harbor:” FY26 funding bill collapses after ICE shooting of Alex Pretti

In last week’s issue of The Cancer Letter, Jacquelyn Cobb, associate editor, wrote a story about the then-promising legislative package that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives Jan. 22. At the time, the package was expected to pass in the Senate, provide funding for the federal government through fiscal year 2026, and prevent a government shutdown that looms Jan. 30.

January 28, 2026

Vol.52 No.03

With CDC in free fall, RFK Jr. faces bipartisan rebuke at Senate hearing

Kennedy calls CDC “the most corrupt agency at HHS and maybe the government.”

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

NIH Director Bhattacharya named acting CDC director in latest public health shakeup
The temporary appointment concentrates vast authority in the hands of one person

HHS withdraws 340B drug rebate pilot program

HPV cancer vaccine slows tumor growth, extends survival in animal models

After a brief government shutdown, FY26 funding bill is signed into law
NIH gets $415M raise, NCI gets $128M more, CDMRP funding largely restored

NIH’s Bhattacharya acknowledges absence of causal link between vaccines and autism

“There is no safe harbor:” FY26 funding bill collapses after ICE shooting of Alex Pretti

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With CDC in free fall, RFK Jr. faces bipartisan rebuke at Senate hearing

Kennedy calls CDC “the most corrupt agency at HHS and maybe the government.”

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

NIH Director Bhattacharya named acting CDC director in latest public health shakeupThe temporary appointment concentrates vast authority in the hands of one person

HHS withdraws 340B drug rebate pilot program

HPV cancer vaccine slows tumor growth, extends survival in animal models

After a brief government shutdown, FY26 funding bill is signed into lawNIH gets $415M raise, NCI gets $128M more, CDMRP funding largely restored

NIH’s Bhattacharya acknowledges absence of causal link between vaccines and autism

“There is no safe harbor:” FY26 funding bill collapses after ICE shooting of Alex Pretti

Never miss an issue!

Login

NIH Director Bhattacharya named acting CDC director in latest public health shakeup
The temporary appointment concentrates vast authority in the hands of one person

After a brief government shutdown, FY26 funding bill is signed into law
NIH gets $415M raise, NCI gets $128M more, CDMRP funding largely restored