Congress is back after a short recess, and President Trump’s ballroom remodel has been paused yet again, and some congressional Republicans are worried that the $1 billion budget request for security related to the ballroom could get them into some hot water in the lead up to November midterms. But what is the status of Reconciliation 2.0? Let’s get into it. Welcome to the Week Ahead!
The Administration
The spotlight has shifted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Commissioner Marty Makary, as concerns mount about agency effectiveness under his leadership. The FDA recently rejected a drug that would treat melanoma from Replimune, citing insufficient data on the drug’s effectiveness due to the reliance on a single-arm trial design. Commissioner Makary will need to defend FDA decisions as he appears before the Senate Appropriations Ag-FDA Subcommittee on May 13 to testify about the FY 2027 (FY 27) FDA budget proposal. But he may not get the chance if President Trump follows through on his reported plans to fire Commissioner Makary…
Meanwhile, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is hard at work developing the interim final rule on state implementation of the Big, Beautiful Bill’s community engagement requirements ahead of the June 1st, deadline. Nebraska recently became the first state to begin enforcement, but stakeholders are concerned about the effects on eligibility and enrollment. The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) has similar concerns about the requirements nationwide and voted to include a recommendation for CMS to develop a transparent monitoring and evaluation plan that will be included in its June 2026 report to Congress.
The newly formed Healthcare Advisory Committee (HAC) will have their first meeting on May 18. The committee was formed to advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the CMS Administrator on programs and policies that can improve the US health care system. According to a press release announcing the Committee, HHS leadership intends for the Committee to focus on improving preventive care, reducing administrative burden with the health care system, and strengthening the sustainability of public health programs. The meeting will include public introduction of Committee members, the Committee vision, and establishment of Committee bylaws. Comments are due by 5pm on May 13 and can be submitted to hac@cms.hhs.gov.
The Senate
We’re on primary watch, as Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA-5) compete for the Republican spot on the November ballot. Sen. Cassidy chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and sits on the Senate Finance Committee, so a potential loss for him would have big implications for Senate health care committees in the 120th Congress. Sen. Cassidy has pushed back against some of Health and Human Services Sec. Kennedy’s policies, most notably changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. He has also been called out by President Trump as a roadblock to the confirmation of President Trump’s nomination of Casey Means for US Surgeon General. On the other hand, Rep. Letlow has aligned herself closely with the make America healthy again (MAHA) movement, receiving endorsements from President Trump and the MAHA PAC.
If Sen. Cassidy loses the primary, he will still have another 7 months to exert his influence in the Senate. That might mean we see him become more outspoken about his disagreements on vaccines. Sen. Cassidy’s would also be able to exert influence over the confirmation process of Dr. Erica Swartz to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Nicole Saphier to be Surgeon General, as well as a possible new nominee for FDA Commissioner.
Health Care Hearings This Week
- May 13: Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on COVID-19 whistleblower testimony
The House
House Republicans are keeping their eyes on the prize: the promise of Reconciliation 3.0. House Republican leadership was able to keep the Reconciliation 2.0 package focused on immigration enforcement funding through assurances of a 3rd package for other priorities, such as health care. House Republican leadership is committed to getting Reconciliation 2.0 on the President’s desk before his June 1 deadline. Meantime, House conservatives are working hard to keep the conversation about 3.0 afloat.
The House is kicking off floor consideration of FFY 27 appropriations legislation this week with the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. The House Rules Committee is scheduled to meet on the bill on May 12 and floor consideration is expected later in the week. The bill includes funding for the Veterans Health Administration.
New health care legislation may be on the horizon, as our conversations on the Hill indicate that the House Ways and Means Committee is planning for a markup of anti-fraud legislation, including items related to health care. We are also hearing that the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee is looking to take action in response to the recent series of hearing about health care affordability.
Health Care Hearings This Week
- May 14: House Veterans’ Affairs Committee markup of several Veteran health care bills
There You Have It
Did you know that Mother’s Day can be traced back to movements by women reformers to improve national public health and hygiene and now honors the role of mothers? What Mother’s Day traditions do you have? Let us know. Make it a great week!
