Kennedy’s comments in the hearing contradict Trump administration actions targeting Long COVID and COVID-19 research and support
Long COVID was at the top of legislators’ priority list during today’s Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-L.A.), who chairs the HELP Committee, asked about federal health agencies’ commitment to addressing Long COVID in his first question to the Secretary.
In his question, Cassidy noted the need to treat previously ignored infection-associated chronic illnesses like myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) in tandem with Long COVID. He also mentioned the Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to close the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice.
Cassidy asked, “To what extent will HHS continue to support research, data collection, and other programs dedicated to understanding the health impacts of Long COVID?”
Kennedy told the HELP Committee, “I am 100% committed to finding treatments for Long COVID. I’m deeply involved in that, personally. I have a son who is really dramatically affected by Long COVID. I have many friends that are affected by that, and by Lyme disease, incidentally, which is also a priority.”
He stated that the Office of Long COVID was cut by an executive order from the White House. “But everyone at the NIH and CDC is committed to these kinds of studies. And I can tell you, personally, I will make sure that they happen,” he said.
The hearing follows other Trump administration actions targeting Long COVID and COVID-19, including terminating the HHS advisory committee on Long COVID, taking down federal resources and data about the disease, and cutting research funding. Some Long COVID grants, part of the NIH RECOVER program, were restored following community advocacy, but other funding cuts continue to impact Long COVID and ME research and supports.
Long COVID and ME advocates who organized a recent protest in Washington D.C. stated that the Trump Administration had a “campaign of revenge against infectious disease, public health, and infection-associated chronic conditions” because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Heather Hogan, Betsy Ladyzhets, and Miles Griffis contributed to this story.
The Sick Times will continue following Long COVID-related news from the Trump administration. Send us tips at editors@thesicktimes.org, or reach out to Betsy on Signal @betsyladyzhets.25 or Miles at milesgriffis.31.
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[…] Kennedy shared both his own and his sons’ experience with Lyme disease during his opening remarks. In his Senate confirmation hearing, he also stated one of his sons is “dramatically affected” by Long COVID. […]
[…] Secretary Kennedy opened the meeting with the news that the HHS was launching a “Long COVID consortium,” which he had first shared during a recent Senate Finance Committee hearing earlier this month. He stated the department is commencing the new group in response to requests from Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Todd Young (R-IN). Kennedy said he receives daily calls about Long COVID and repeated that the disease impacts his own family. […]
[…] F. Kennedy Jr. made to Senators during his confirmation hearing. He also vowed in a May Senate hearing to find treatments for Long […]