Congressman Krishnamoorthi Demands Answers After HHS Cuts Pediatric Health Grants Following Criticism of RFK Jr. by the American Academy of Pediatrics

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressing grave concern over the Department’s decision to terminate more than $18 million in federal grants awarded to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), warning that the move threatens critical child health initiatives nationwide and raises serious questions about political retaliation and the integrity of federal public health funding. In the letter, Congressman Krishnamoorthi emphasized that the AAP, headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, represents more than 67,000 pediatricians nationwide and has served for nearly a century as a cornerstone of evidence-based pediatric care and public health:

The terminated grants supported programs aimed at reducing sudden infant death, improving adolescent health outcomes, preventing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, and ensuring early identification of autism. The Department has stated that these initiatives “no longer align with the Department’s mission or priorities,” a justification Congressman Krishnamoorthi sharply questioned.

“I find it profoundly disturbing that preventing infant deaths, protecting adolescent health, and identifying developmental disabilities early are now considered misaligned with the mission of the federal agency charged with safeguarding public health,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi wrote in his letter. “The funding cancellations came shortly after the AAP challenged Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine policies in federal court, raising serious concerns that this action may represent retaliation against a respected medical organization for exercising its legal rights and defending science-based public health policy.”

The letter raises particular concern about the timing of the cancellations, noting that the funding terminations occurred shortly after the AAP challenged Secretary Kennedy’s vaccine policies in federal court. Emphasizing the responsibilities of HHS and its subagencies, including the CDC and HRSA, the letter underscores that public health funding decisions must be guided by science rather than ideology.

To better understand how the Department is making grant funding decisions, Congressman Krishnamoorthi requested that HHS provide responses to the following questions by January 20, 2026:

1. All documents and communications related to the decision to cancel $18.6 million in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
2. An outline of projects and initiatives that will be funded to replace work that AAP was performing in relation to sudden infant deaths, adolescent health, fetal alcohol syndrome prevention, and early autism detection.
3. HHS, CDC, and HRSA’s banned words and ideologies when considering projects for federal funding.
4. A list of all HHS, CDC, and HRSA projects that have been cancelled because they “no longer align with the Department’s mission or priorities.”

Congressman Krishnamoorthi's letter is available here.