Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Health and Human Services

The House Committee on Education & Workforce held a hearing on April 17, 2026, to examine the policies and priorities of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Secretary Kennedy. The discussion focused heavily on HHS's budget proposal, which aims to reduce federal spending by $1.8 billion annually through restructuring and cutting certain programs. Key procurement-related topics included the department's efforts to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in state-administered programs such as Medicaid and the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), with specific mention of fraud investigations in Minnesota and other states. The Secretary highlighted initiatives like the rural health transformation fund, a $50 billion investment over five years to support rural hospitals, and efforts to modernize health data infrastructure to improve interoperability and crisis response. The committee also discussed the department's negotiation of drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and reforms to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to reduce healthcare costs. Several members expressed concern over proposed cuts to public health agencies, child nutrition programs, mental health and substance abuse services, and research grants, emphasizing the potential impact on vulnerable populations. The hearing included debates on policy decisions affecting future procurement and funding allocations, such as the elimination of certain grants and the shifting of education programs to HHS. No specific contract awards or vendor selections were detailed, but the budget and programmatic priorities discussed will influence future procurement and funding opportunities within HHS.