By Ahmed Aboulenein
WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has canceled millions of dollars in grants awarded to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it said on Wednesday, including ones the group said were aimed at reducing sudden infant death and early detection of autism.
The move comes as the AAP, a vocal critic of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., challenged vaccine policies enacted under his leadership in federal court. Kennedy, a longtime critic of vaccines, has accused the organization of accepting funding from drug and vaccine makers to further their interests.
“These grants, previously awarded to the American Academy of Pediatrics, were canceled along with a number of other grants to other organizations because they no longer align with the Department’s mission or priorities,” an HHS spokesperson said.
GRANT CANCELLATION MAY HURT INFANTS, CHILDREN: AAP
The funding cuts were first reported by the Washington Post.
AAP CEO Mark Del Monte said in a statement that the seven canceled grants, three from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and four from the Health Resources and Services Administration, had also supported programs such as mental health services, adolescent health, rural healthcare access, and prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
“The sudden withdrawal of these funds will directly impact and potentially harm infants, children, youth, and their families in communities across the United States,” said Del Monte, adding that the group is assessing its options, including potential legal action.
The AAP has received $18.4 million in federal funding from HHS in 2025, according to government records. The newly canceled grants had been communicated to the organization earlier this week, according to Del Monte.
The AAP broke with federal policy in August when it recommended that all young children get vaccinated against COVID-19, diverging from the CDC. It condemned Kennedy when he fired the CDC’s independent panel of vaccine experts in June.
In October, it said it does not recommend the routine use of leucovorin – a form of vitamin B9 – in children with autism, citing a lack of evidence on the treatment’s benefits and risks to support widespread use in this population. Kennedy touted the decades-old drug in September at a White House event.
(Reporting by Ahmed AbouleneinEditing by Rod Nickel)
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