What's Happening

Politics

Trump's DEI Initiatives Just Came for Family Planning 

What's going on: In a major blow to reproductive healthcare access, President Donald Trump’s administration plans to freeze $120 million in federal family-planning grants, according to The Wall Street Journal. The pause would suspend money that helps clinics like Planned Parenthood provide cancer screenings, STI testing, birth control, and pregnancy testing — services that helped about 2.6 million people access free or reduced-price care in 2022. The reason? The WSJ reports the administration wants the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to review whether any of the money is being used for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The WSJ notes the freeze could be made public as soon as this week, and it’s unclear how long it will last. Legal challenges are almost certain.

What it means: About half of this year’s family-planning and preventative care funding is now in limbo. The Wall Street Journal reports that HHS could go beyond pausing funding, potentially rescinding or reallocating grants entirely — a move that could force clinics to shut down. Lower-income and rural patients would likely be hit the hardest. Conservative politicians have long pushed to defund Planned Parenthood, mostly because it provides abortions (though the majority of its work is in preventative care). On the state level, there have been attempts to knock out the organization for over a decade — remember when former state Sen. Wendy Davis (D-TX) filibustered for 13 hours to try to stop a related bill? And in 2019, the first Trump administration banned organizations that referred patients for abortions from receiving family planning grants — a rule the Biden administration later overturned. 

Related: The Trump Admin Says That Houthi Group Chat Leak Was No Biggie (PBS News) 

Health

West Virginia's All In on MAHA

What's going on: West Virginia just told artificial food dyes to pack their neon-colored bags. Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a law on Monday making his state the first to ban nearly all artificial food dyes — along with two preservatives — from products sold statewide. Full enforcement starts in 2028, but the first changes will hit school meals this August. The dyes in question, responsible for making cereals, snacks, and candies look straight out of a science lab (because they are), have been linked to behavioral issues in kids, among other health concerns. “West Virginia ranks at the bottom of many public health metrics, which is why there’s no better place to lead the Make America Healthy Again mission,” Morrisey said.

What it means: Across the US, the push to ban artificial dyes is gaining momentum (HHS Secretary RFK Jr. has made it a national priority, after all). In just the first three months of this year, lawmakers introduced 40 bills across 20 states — the most ever in a single year. While West Virginia is leading the charge, food manufacturers may soon have no choice but to reformulate their products if more states follow suit. Food industry groups are, predictably, not thrilled, arguing that a patchwork of state bans will drive up costs and create a regulatory mess. But many manufacturers already make dye-free versions for Europe, so it’s hard to argue they can’t do the same here.

Related: Next Up for MAHA: Giving Baby Formula a Healthy Makeover (NYT Gift Link)

Business

Your DNA Might Be Up for Grabs

What's going on: Spit, send, and uncover your roots — 23andMe made it easy to explore your genetic history. But the days of finding long-lost cousins might be over. The company, once valued at $6 billion, filed for bankruptcy after losing 98% of its value since going public in 2021. While its financial struggles are one thing, customers are far more concerned about what happens to their genetic data. More than 15 million people have sent their saliva-filled tubes to 23andMe — making it one of the largest genetic databases. The Wall Street Journal reports that users trying to delete their accounts are facing long wait times — when it should take a few minutes, max.

What it means: Unlike medical records, 23andMe’s data isn’t protected by HIPAA, meaning it could be sold to the highest bidder with no guarantee of how it’ll be used. Experts warn that if an insurance company buys the data, they could theoretically screen for genetic risks and deny coverage. The company said “any buyer of 23andMe will be required to comply with applicable law.” A court will have to approve any potential sale or business reorganization, but a new owner could change the privacy policy people originally agreed to. As 23andMe navigates bankruptcy, cybersecurity experts warn hackers could (once again) go after your DNA. 23andEveryone else.

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