Senate appropriators have dealt a blow to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s plans to reorganize certain primary care and chronic health programs. In a recent budget markup, senators decided to fund programs like HIV/AIDs prevention and community health centers within their existing agencies, rather than creating a new entity called the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA).
Kennedy had hoped to make the AHA the centerpiece of a larger department-wide reorganization plan. However, the Senate’s decision not to recognize the new agency is a setback for his vision.
The fiscal 2026 budget approval is just one step in the lengthy congressional budget process, but it signals a significant roadblock for Kennedy’s proposed changes. Despite his efforts to streamline and improve healthcare programs, Senate appropriators have chosen to maintain the status quo for now.
The rejection of the AHA underscores the challenges of implementing major structural reforms in government agencies. It also highlights the competing priorities and interests that lawmakers must navigate when making budget decisions.
As the budget process moves forward, it remains to be seen how Kennedy will respond to this setback. Will he continue to push for the creation of the AHA, or will he pivot to other strategies to achieve his healthcare reform goals?
Ultimately, the fate of the AHA and Kennedy’s reorganization plan will depend on the continued support and cooperation of key stakeholders in Congress. As the debate over healthcare reform continues, the future of primary care and chronic health programs hangs in the balance.
