The Daily Signal Blue States Sue Trump Over HHS Cuts, Sec. McMahon Bodies Harvard | May 6, 2025
May 6, 2025
Nineteen states are taking legal action against the Trump administration over cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services, claiming it could harm public health programs. The podcast delves into the controversial gain-of-function research, discussing its implications and recent federal funding bans. Education Secretary Linda McMahon challenges Harvard University, highlighting compliance issues with civil rights laws and questioning the integrity of its admissions practices. The conversation examines the intersection of federal funding and educational ethics.
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Not Mandated: HHS Cuts Insight
- The Trump administration's cuts of 10,000 to 20,000 HHS positions aimed to save $1.8 billion annually by eliminating redundant roles.
- Laws and the Constitution do not mandate specific employee numbers or funding amounts for HHS.
Gain-of-Function Research Risks
- The U.S. banned gain-of-function research, which enhances pathogens, due to its risky role in bioweapons and possibly pandemics.
- New executive orders reinforce the ban and oversight to protect human health globally.
Origins and Consequences of Gain-of-Function Research
- Gain-of-function research started in 1947 for bioweapons, was banned in 1969, but resumed in 2001 under vaccine research claims.
- Intelligence suggests this research caused the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting President Trump to halt such funding domestically and abroad.