Public health sabotaged: RFK Jr. purges nation’s vaccine advisory committee

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829  

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is alarmed by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s removal of all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)—a body composed of independent public health experts who were vetted and appointed through a transparent, rigorous process during the previous administration.  ACIP plays a critical role in evaluating the safety, effectiveness, and public health need for vaccines. Its recommendations guide immunization practices for children, seniors, and the general public—including routine vaccines such as the annual flu shot. 

“Expertise is not a conflict of interest—it’s a safeguard,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “ACIP members are among the most respected scientists and physicians in the country. To remove them wholesale is reckless, and to do so without a clear plan for who will replace them, just weeks before a major meeting, puts the health of every American at risk.”     

ACIP plays a critical role in determining the safety, efficacy, and recommended use of vaccines—decisions that directly impact whether lifesaving immunizations are covered by public and private insurance. Removing the entire committee without naming qualified replacements risks delaying these essential decisions, weakening public trust, and politicizing what must remain an evidence-based process.    

The upcoming ACIP meeting scheduled for June 25–27 looms large, and it is unclear how newly appointed members, with no transition period or institutional knowledge, will be able to contribute to this complex and urgent work responsibly. The lack of continuity undermines the stability of our public health infrastructure and injects uncertainty into vaccine access and coverage.   

We call on Secretary Kennedy to ensure that new appointees are selected transparently, based on qualifications, not ideology, and to protect the scientific integrity of one of the nation’s most trusted advisory bodies.   

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)       

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.     

MAHA report troubling and misleading for Americans says National Consumers League 

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829  

Washington, DC —The National Consumers League (NCL) is concerned by the release of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) report, a 69-page report masquerading as a public health strategy.    

“This report is a diagnosis without a treatment plan. It’s a muddled mix of cherry-picked, outdated, and misleading data designed to stoke fear, not solve problems,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL CEO. “It reads less like a roadmap for public health and more like a conspiracy manifesto in a lab coat.”     

On issues NCL has long championed – vaccines, food safety, and nutrition labeling – the MAHA report is troubling. It casts baseless doubt on vaccine safety, questions food regulations grounded in science, and floats vague, unworkable notions that would unravel decades of hard-won consumer protections.   

The report’s food safety claims are flawed, painting a grim picture of pesticide use in American agriculture—claims that have already sparked a backlash from farmers. A review by NOTUS found that several cited studies either don’t exist or were misrepresented, including one falsely attributed to a researcher. “You can’t call this ‘gold-standard science’ while relying on phantom studies,” said Greenberg. “This isn’t transparency—it’s recklessness.” Despite these red flags, the White House is pushing ahead, requesting $500 million to advance the report’s next phase.   

Americans deserve evidence-based policy, not scare tactics. We call on policymakers, scientists, and the public to recommit to a health system that is modern, science-driven, and focused on consumer safety. If this report is a roadmap, NCL is fearful of what the next phase could mean for Americans. Here at NCL, we agree that it is imperative to bolster public health and encourage cleaner food production and supply, but this report falls short.   

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.   

National Survey Shows a Vast Majority of Americans Want Comprehensive Reform of the 340B Drug Pricing Program

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829  

National Poll Demonstrates Strong Support for Policies That Ensure Qualifying Patients Benefit Directly From 340B Drug Discounts, Hold 340B Hospitals & Covered Entities Accountable

Washington, DC – Today, the National Consumers League (NCL) released results from a new Morning Consult national poll of more than 20,000 American adults, revealing overwhelming concern about the burden of medical debt and strong public demand for comprehensive reforms of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Nearly four in five surveyed adults (78%) support establishing requirements to ensure that qualifying patients directly benefit from 340B drug discounts through reduced out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. More than three in four surveyed adults (77%) believe hospitals should be required to pass 340B savings directly onto patients.

The national poll also found that:

  • 54% of surveyed adults currently have or previously had medical debt, with those in rural areas and the South disproportionately affected. Among adults who have experienced medical debt, more than half (54%) reported skipping additional needed medical care due to cost.
  • Three in four surveyed adults (76%) expressed concern that hospitals benefiting from 340B drug discounts often pursue aggressive debt collection practices against patients.
  • A majority of polled adults strongly supported proposed reforms of the 340B program, including policies to ensure qualifying patients benefit directly from 340B through reduced out-of-pocket costs, allow audits on how hospitals and pharmacies are using the 340B program, and add a requirement that 340B hospitals share a portion of the savings they generate with qualifying 340B patients.

“The 340B program is supposed to help vulnerable patients access and afford life-saving medicines and care, but the evidence shows some hospitals, the pharmacies they contract with, and middlemen are abusing 340B for profit at the expense of low-income and uninsured patients,” said National Consumers League (NCL) CEO Sally Greenberg, JD. “Americans have said loud and clear: They want a 340B program that puts patients first, not profits. Congress must act now to institute comprehensive reforms that restore integrity and accountability to 340B before more patients are left behind.”

The 340B Drug Pricing Program allows hospitals and other covered healthcare entities to access medications at discounted prices from manufacturers with the intent that they pass savings onto patients. However, over time, some hospitals, the pharmacies they contract with, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have manipulated the program into a major profit-generating enterprise. In many cases, 340B hospitals charge patients full price for discounted drugs, keep the difference as profit, provide minimal levels of charity care, and pursue aggressive debt collection practices against the very patients the program was meant to protect.

This April, Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), the Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a report detailing finds from a multi-year investigation of how covered entities abuse the 340B program. In the report, Sen. Cassidy outlined reforms meant to bring greater transparency to the 340B program, including requiring annual reporting on how 340B revenue is used to ensure direct savings for patients and providing clear guidelines to ensure that drug discounts actually benefit 340B-eligible patients.

By the Numbers: 340B Program Abuses Harm American Patients

  • Massive Price Markups. Medicine price markups are 6.6 times higher at 340B hospitals than at independent clinics, and research shows participation in 340B does not improve health outcomes for uninsured and low-income patients.
  • Declining Charity Care. 340B has grown exponentially to become the second largest federal prescription drug program after Medicare Part D. However, only $1 is invested in charity care for every $10 in profit collected by profitable 340B hospitals.
  • Lack of Transparency. Discounted purchases under 340B totaled a massive $66.3 billion in 2023. However, hospitals are not required to disclose their 340B profits or even whether their revenue is used to lower patient costs.

To learn more about the 340B Drug Pricing Program and the need for federal reforms of the program, visit: https://nclnet.org/340b-program/.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)       

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.   

NCL applauds Senator Cassidy’s effort to shine light on 340B program oversight and accountability

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829  

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) applauds Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, for releasing a new report exposing significant accountability gaps in the federal 340B drug discount program.    

“The 340B program was designed to help vulnerable patients afford life-saving medications—not to boost the bottom lines of large health systems or third-party contractors,” said Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League. “Senator Cassidy’s report rightly calls for greater accountability, transparency, and reform. We urge Congress to act quickly so this critical program delivers on its promise to help the patients who need it most.”  

The report raises serious concerns about how hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies use 340B revenue—often with little transparency or direct benefit to low-income and uninsured patients. Key findings include:  

  • Large hospital systems report hundreds of millions in 340B revenue used for vague purposes like “capital improvements,” with no clear patient benefit.  
  • Federally Qualified Health Centers show inconsistent practices in delivering discounts to patients, despite a significant 340B income.  
  • Pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens impose rising fees on providers, making it harder to serve vulnerable patients.  
  • Drug manufacturers report misuse of discounts, including diversion to ineligible patients and duplicate discounts.  

Senator Cassidy proposes reforms to increase oversight, require annual reporting on 340B revenue use, and ensure patients—not intermediaries—benefit from the program.  

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)       

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.   

Trump budget proposal would dismantle core health programs          

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829       

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is raising serious concerns about the Trump administration’s proposal to cut the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget by more than 30%. This drastic move would gut essential public health protections, weaken food safety, and threaten scientific progress.    

“This budget is not a strategic approach to the reorganization of HHS; it is a slash-and-burn mentality for programs that everyday Americans rely on,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “Gutting vital agencies and drastically reducing funding for health care, research, and food safety will put millions of lives in danger—especially the most vulnerable. Especially following a mass layoff, these cuts appear extremely alarming and leave the functionality of programs like HRSA, CDC, FDA, and NIH up in the air.”         

Key proposed cuts include:   

  • Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): Proposed cuts would eliminate this agency, which supports Medicare, Medicaid, and vital rural and community health programs, leaving millions without essential healthcare.   
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): A 40% budget reduction, from $47 billion to $27 billion, threatens crucial research on diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s, while new funding caps could hinder innovation at universities and research centers.   
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Budget cuts would slash the CDC’s funding from $9.2 billion to $5.2 billion, eliminating domestic HIV prevention, chronic disease programs, and research on obesity and heart disease.   
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Shifting food safety oversight to state agencies without adequate resources could increase foodborne illness risks and erode public trust in food safety.   
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): The proposed budget would not only shift the remaining Administration of Community Living programs under CMS but would also move the Office of Pharmacy Affairs from HRSA, allowing CMS to regulate the 340B drug pricing program. 

The budget proposal comes in the wake of ongoing changes at HHS, including the recent dismissal of 10,000 employees. It comes as part of a larger effort to redefine the federal government’s role in healthcare and social services.      

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)        

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org. 

NCL urges ACIP to expand RSV vaccine recommendations at April 2025 meeting

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829

Washington, DC — This week, the National Consumers League this week strongly recommended expanding respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for high-risk adults 50-59 years old to protect against a condition that can become severe for infants and older adults. NCL was selected to make remarks before the critically important Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ( ACIP)  Additionally, NCL encouraged the Committee to continue its work in support of increasing vaccine confidence and transparency for the public.  On April 11, 2025, the National Consumers League submitted comments in response to a request for comments at the April 15 and 16 in Atlanta, Georgia.

ACIP also discussed the COVID-19, flu, RSV, and meningococcal vaccines. At the meeting, additional discussion and updates were provided on the ongoing and growing measles outbreaks and cases across the nation. The Committee voted on recommendations for three vaccines, including RSV.

Samantha Sears, NCL’s Health Policy Associate, told the ACIP committee to expand access to RSV and other vaccines and advised that a middle ground, called shared clinical decision-making, has proven too often to result in patients not choosing to get vaccinated, which runs counter to NCL’s support for broader vaccine adoption given the vast data to support the overwhelming safety and efficacy of vaccines in preventing infection disease.

Originally, ACIP was scheduled to meet in February, but the meeting was indefinitely postponed after the confirmation of the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. NCL is pleased that the Secretary rescheduled this meeting and hopes that the remaining two meetings of ACIP in 2025 will continue as scheduled.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), comprising fifteen medical and public health experts, is charged with advising the CDC Director on the use of vaccines and the immunization schedules for adults and children. ACIP meets regularly to review data, studies, and proposals for vaccines and, as needed, for emergency cases. Meetings are open to the public and, since COVID, streamed online. The recordings of the livestream of the April 15 and April 16 meetings are available online.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)   

 The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org. 

Mass layoffs at HHS: A blow to healthcare access and public health

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829   

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is deeply concerned by the Trump administration’s decision to lay off an additional 10,000 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) following the already eliminated 10,000 jobs via previous rounds of cuts. In total, the restructuring and force reduction plans will result in a downsizing from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees nationwide.    

The impact of these cuts and restructuring is particularly concerning for agencies like the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). These agencies are crucial to the functioning of vital public health and safety programs, including the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which allows hospitals, community health centers, and other providers to purchase prescription medications at discounted prices. This ensures that low-income and underserved communities can afford the medications they need.    

“In the wake of a nationwide measles outbreak, this is a reckless decision by the Trump administration,” said Samatha Sears, NCL Health Policy Associate. “HHS leadership should be prioritized on bolstering public health and delving into medical research for vaccines and medications, not firing thousands of staff and jeopardizing agencies like HRSA and NIOSH. Downsizing this department under our current circumstances is irresponsible and dangerous to the American people.”     

The NCL calls on the administration to reconsider these workforce reductions to ensure that essential health services are not disrupted and that vulnerable communities continue to have access to the care they need.   

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)  

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.  

NCL sounds alarm over measles outbreak, calls for stronger immunization leadership

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829
Washington, DC — As of this week, there are a total of 223 cases of measles in western Texas, and it is spreading to neighboring counties in New Mexico and Oklahoma. Yet, recently confirmed Secretary of U.S. Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy is not actively pushing for Americans to get immunized. The National Consumers League (NCL) stands firmly on the side of science and evidence-based medicine.  In February, we expressed concern over his appointment, and now we are witnessing the significant risk to Americans’ health and well-being we previously stated.
“This spread of an extremely contagious virus should be a wakeup call to the American people and a stark reminder of the importance of immunization,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL CEO. “Decades ago, we saw a similar situation turn, polio, turn into an epidemic causing major disabilities and death to millions of Americans. We cannot go back. As a nation, our leaders and lawmakers should lead with facts, scientific data, and a commitment to public well-being.”
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About the National Consumers League (NCL)
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Trump administration shortens ACA enrollment, threatening healthcare for millions of consumers

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 Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829      

Washington, DC – Millions of Americans would be affected by the Trump administration’s attempts to shorten the Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment period and eliminate the monthly enrollment option for low-income families.   

By shortening the open enrollment window from 12 weeks to just 30 days, the proposal issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would inevitably result in eligible individuals failing to enroll in coverage. The drastic reduction in time creates unnecessary barriers to enrollment for consumers, particularly those who need time to research their options, gather necessary documentation, contact brokers, or navigate the enrollment process. This is a direct attack on consumers’ access to healthcare, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including low-income families, the elderly, and those with limited internet access or health literacy.  

In Trump’s first term, the administration cut outreach and public education funding and allowed short-term plans that offer subpar coverage, leading to a significant drop in ACA enrollment. This latest attempt will create further confusion and chaos for consumers seeking affordable healthcare options.     

Additionally, the CMS proposal to deny ACA coverage to immigrant “Dreamers”—young people brought to the U.S. illegally as children—raises further concerns. These individuals are hardworking, tax-paying contributors to the U.S. economy and should not be excluded from accessing healthcare plans. CMS also proposed limiting coverage for gender-affirming care starting in 2026.    

“This is a cruel and calculated attempt to roll back the ACA, undermine consumers, and restrict access to healthcare for millions,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL CEO. “By shortening the enrollment period, the administration is making it harder for hardworking Americans to find the coverage they need. Denying Dreamers access to health care is unjust, shortsighted, and could put in danger the broader community. We are disappointed by this proposal as Mr. Trump has pledged not to harm Dreamers.”   

In December of 2024 President Trump discussed Dreamers during a “Meet the Press” interview: “We have to do something about the Dreamers because these are people that have been brought here at a very young age,’ If Dreamers have the right to stay in this country, as Mr. Trump says they should, it is essential they have the same health care options available as all other Americans.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org. 

NCL signs on to PBM Accountability Project letter advocating for transparency and cost savings in prescription drug pricing  

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is proud to announce its support for the PBM Accountability Project’s letter, which has been shared with the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee ahead of their hearing on February 26, 2025. The PBM Accountability Project calls for urgent reform of the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) industry to increase transparency, reduce prescription drug costs, and provide relief to consumers and patients across the nation.    

The National Consumers League has growing concerns about the anti-competitive, anti-consumer, and anti-patient practices of the largest PBMs, which have created an opaque system that inflates prescription drug prices. NCL stands firm with the signatories in urging the subcommittee to advance bipartisan legislation that addresses these harmful practices and restores fairness to the prescription drug marketplace.     

“Consumers deserve transparency and affordability in healthcare,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “PBMs have been driving up costs for everyday Americans and their families, often without consumers realizing the true price of their medications. NCL’s commitment to consumer protection means advocating for policies that rein in the practices of these middlemen and prioritize patients over corporate profits. We must act now to bring down drug prices and ensure every American has access to affordable medications.”   

Consumers need immediate action to curb the influence of PBMs, whose practices have been detrimental to both patients and community pharmacies. Key bipartisan reforms highlighted in the letter include measures such as delinking drug prices from PBM revenues, implementing fair pharmacy contract terms, and ensuring rebates are passed directly to patients. These reforms are essential to lowering drug costs and increasing access to vital medications.   

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)    

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.