The Trump administration <a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-ends-federal-medicaid-chip-funding-sex-rejecting-procedures-children-youth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Tuesday that a final rule barring federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funds from being used to pay for transgender medical interventions for minors, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries.
“Today, we are ending federal taxpayer funding for sex-rejecting procedures on children,” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said. “These interventions carry serious risks and can cause irreversible harm. The federal government will no longer use Medicaid and CHIP dollars to fund procedures that fail to meet the evidentiary standard our children deserve.”
President Donald Trump celebrated the decision Tuesday, saying his administration would no longer force taxpayers to finance “barbaric surgeries and practices” on children. 
“Just think about all of the young, innocent, and perhaps confused children who will be spared!” Trump wrote on <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117078967972327386">Truth Social</a>.
Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the policy is intended to protect children from experimental and potentially irreversible medical interventions. 
“Children deserve our protection, not experimental interventions that pose serious risks and convey no proven benefits,” Oz said. “By cutting off federal funds for these sex-rejecting procedures, we’re following the science, saving taxpayer dollars, and, most importantly, protecting children from potentially irreversible harm so they can truly flourish.”
CMS said its decision followed a review of national and international research conducted by HHS that identified what the agency described as significant evidence gaps and safety concerns.
CMS said the procedures can carry potentially permanent consequences, including infertility, impaired sexual function, diminished bone density, altered brain development, and other lasting physiological effects.
The agency also pointed to the United Kingdom’s Cass Review, a comprehensive examination of medical treatment for transgender-identifying children, as evidence of international scrutiny surrounding the treatments.  
The new rule includes a taper-off period for minors already receiving hormone therapy. Federal Medicaid and CHIP funding will remain available for up to six months after the rule takes effect to allow patients to safely get off hormone treatment.
The rule does not affect Medicaid or CHIP coverage for mental health services, which CMS said will continue to be covered under existing federal requirements.
Trump tied the policy to the upcoming midterm elections.
“Please remember this when you are casting your vote in the Midterm Elections in November,” he wrote.
CMS said Tuesday’s action is specifically focused on the use of federal taxpayer dollars. 
“The Trump Administration is drawing a clear line: America’s children will not be subjected to life-altering interventions on the taxpayer’s dime without reliable evidence of safety and clinical benefit,” HHS Press Secretary Emily Hilliard said.
The rule is set to take effect October 13, putting the federal funding restrictions in place less than a month before the November midterm elections.

President Trump Participates In Swearing-In Ceremony For Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz

Trump Admin Ends Medicaid Funding For Child ‘Sex-Rejecting’ Procedures

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Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed advocated abolishing the Second Amendment in favor of the “right to have health care” in a now-hidden video. 
El-Sayed hid up to 100 videos where he pushed radical policies, including getting rid of the right to bear arms and complaining about fireworks, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/11/politics/el-sayed-youtube-videos-fireworks-2nd-amendment">reported</a> Tuesday. His comments about getting rid of the Second Amendment came shortly after a transgender-identifying woman murdered six people at a Christian school in Tennessee. 
“What if we tweaked the Constitution, amended the amendment, and instead of the right to bear arms, we change it to the right to have healthcare?” he said in April 2023, according to a video viewed by CNN. He claimed that the move would lead to “fewer people dying by gun and more people living because they have healthcare.”
The hidden views come as El-Sayed faces <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dsa-whistleblower-says-hell-do-everything-he-can-to-elect-mike-rogers?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=DSA+Whistleblower+Says+He%E2%80%99ll+Do+%E2%80%98Everything+He+Can%E2%80%99+To+Elect+Mike+Rogers">an exodus</a> by some Democrats from his campaign over his extreme views and association with activists like Hasan Piker, who said America “deserved 9/11.” El-Sayed also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/yes-michigans-abdul-el-sayed-really-wants-to-defund-the-police-here-are-the-receipts">deleted</a> numerous social media posts advocating to defund the police. 
In a July 2024 podcast titled, “Fireworks just aren’t worth it: hear us out,” El-Sayed argued that “fireworks suck” and said Americans should find other ways to celebrate the Fourth of July. The rant against fireworks was sponsored by the Marguerite Casey Foundation, which El-Sayed noted advocated for “feminist prison abolition.” 
El-Sayed downplayed concerns about border security as illegal crossings surged to record levels under President Joe Biden in another video flagged by CNN.
In September 2022, when illegal border crossings reached an astounding 227,000, El-Sayed said that border security “doesn’t even make the top five among issues that people in the United States actually care about that affect their lives.”
“It’s crazy to me that the party that says that they’re the party of family values can’t understand when people will make decisions for their families — because that’s exactly what these migrants are doing,” he added. 
In other resurfaced videos, El-Sayed attacked Michigan&#8217;s beloved Mackinac Island and <a href="https://x.com/Bobby_LaVallley/status/2086877217779270136">claimed</a> football was a breeding ground for “toxic masculinity.&#8221; 
&#8220;Football is very much associated with a particularly masculine and oftentimes toxically masculine culture,” he said. 
El-Sayed’s campaign claimed his views articulated in the videos don’t reflect what he believes today. 
“Abdul is the former captain of his high school football team, loves Michigan football on Saturdays, and celebrates the Fourth of July with fireworks like the next Michigander. Cherry-picked comments from old podcasts don’t reflect his beliefs today,” his campaign said. 
While attempting to distance himself from some of his past statements, El-Sayed’s campaign still includes far-Left policy positions like defending so-called “gender-affirming care” and “Medicare for all.”

MICHIGANDEMS

Abdul El-Sayed Scrubs Video Revealing Second Amendment Plans

2026 Midterms

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Illegal Immigation

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On Thursday, the FDA approved a new daily pill that lowers cholesterol, potentially decreasing the risk of adverse events such as heart attacks or strokes.
<a href="https://www.merck.com/news/mercks-lipfendra-enlicitide-is-the-first-and-only-once-daily-oral-pcsk9-inhibitor-approved-by-the-u-s-fda-to-reduce-ldl-c-in-adults-with-hypercholesterolemia/">Lipfendra</a>, developed by the pharmaceutical company Merck, can significantly reduce <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/about/ldl-and-hdl-cholesterol-and-triglycerides.html">LDL</a> — a type of “bad” cholesterol that can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke — by 56% when compared to placebo at 24 weeks. Clinical trials involving 2,912 people showed the drug can lower LDL levels by 60% with “no difference in side effects between the drug and a placebo” — suggesting a similar success rate to injectable drugs aimed at reducing LDL, according to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/science/the-fda-approves-a-new-pill-to-slash-cholesterol-levels.html">New York Times</a>.
Lipfendra can reduce LDL levels to 50 or lower, a dramatic decrease from the average adult LDL level of 100. For those with an “above-average risk” for heart attacks or strokes, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recommend LDL levels below 70. For high-risk patients, LDL should be below 55.
Until now, most medications to lower cholesterol have been injectable. Only 1% of 6 million eligible patients would take these drugs, according to the New York Times, and prices ranged from $500 to $600 a month or more. The result was that even though a PCSK9 inhibitor could potentially reduce heart attack risk by 20% for high-risk patients, few could actually reap the benefits if the prices remained high.
Lipfendra also functions as a PCSK9 inhibitor, but can be taken orally rather than by injection — and also comes with a much smaller price tag. With a price of $315 for a 30-day supply — and without the pain of injection — Lipfendra is being held up as a potential game-changer. Merck spokesperson Julia Cunningham said the drug will be available in a few weeks.
Dr. Christopher Cannon, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, said he was “thrilled” by the new drug, and Dr. David Maron, a preventive cardiologist at Stanford, believes it will “make a big difference compared with the cost of injectable PCSK9 inhibitors.”
Currently, Merck is testing Lipfendra to evaluate whether it yields the same results as an injectable drug, blocking PCSK9 and reducing chances of “heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular deaths by 20% in high-risk people.” Dr. Dean Li, president of Merck Research Laboratories, said he is “confident that it will,” per the New York Times. The goal is to make this drug available to all doctors for prescription, not just cardiologists.

FDA Plans To Speed Up Drug Trials With Real-Time Data, AI

FDA Approves New Wonder Drug That Could Fix Your Cholesterol

The lion’s share of tributes pouring in for Lindsey Graham, who died unexpectedly over the weekend at 71, will rightly focus on his commitment to bolstering American national security. But there’s another aspect of his legacy that warrants celebration and reflection.
In between his crusades to seat President Donald Trump’s nominees and defend democracy abroad, the late senator from South Carolina led one of the last true efforts to fix American health care. With his death, the last of the Republican health care reformers is gone. We ought to reflect on this fact as we honor his life of public service.
Graham was one of the earliest and most vocal opponents of the Affordable Care Act. &#8220;A government-run, government-controlled system will increase costs, reduce patient choice, and eventually lead to rationing of care,” <a href="https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=A7BA46CB-802A-23AD-4475-D1E6ACB08CBF" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Graham said</a> after President Barack Obama unveiled his signature healthcare proposal in 2009. A year later, Graham lamented the damage Obamacare’s passage had done to American health care and the legislative process, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/graham-well-has-been-poisoned-by-health-care-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener">saying</a>, “the well has been poisoned.”
In the years that followed, Graham never gave up the fight. But unlike many of his colleagues, he did more than occasionally call for “repeal and replace.” In 2017, a succession of GOP reform bills fell in rapid succession, ending when Graham’s friend, Senator John McCain, famously gave a <a href="https://www.npr.org/2017/07/27/539907467/senate-careens-toward-high-drama-midnight-health-care-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“thumbs down”</a> to the Health Care Freedom Act of 2017.
Undeterred, Graham joined with Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy to introduce an amendment to a budget reconciliation bill that would come to be known, colloquially, as “Graham-Cassidy.” The package would have taken all the money that Obamacare allocated for premium credits and Medicaid expansion — $1.2 trillion over six years — and distributed it to the states through block grants.
“The Graham-Cassidy plan is built on the premise that the federal government should remove itself from many of the difficult policy decisions concerning how health insurance is subsidized and regulated,” the American Enterprise Institute’s James Capretta and Joseph Antos <a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/graham-cassidy-plan-sweeping-changes-compressed-time-frame" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> at the time. The bill, they said, “would provide substantial flexibility to the states to design entirely different ways of subsidizing and regulating health insurance in the individual market.”
The bill would have saved taxpayer money while giving more resources directly to states. It would have helped lawmakers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/medicaid-millionaires-how-the-feds-pay-immigrants-billions-to-hang-out-with-their-families" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crack down on fraud</a>. And, perhaps most shockingly in retrospect, it would have <a href="https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/25SEP2017SenCassidySTMNT.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guaranteed access</a> to affordable coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions. Graham-Cassidy would have allowed every state to innovate and design competitive insurance marketplaces that fit their unique needs, essentially removing Obamacare’s inefficiencies and problems without hurting the <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/2017/09/graham-cassidy-health-care-reform-not-obamacare-lite-better-care-reconciliation-act-lindsey-graham-bill-cassidy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">safety net</a>.
There was a lot more to Graham-Cassidy — it repealed the individual mandate, capped federal Medicaid contributions, among other things — but the crux of the bill was returning control to the states. Today we tend to dismiss this kind of policy as a cop-out. But at the time, returning control to the states was <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/04/obamacare-trump-should-let-states-experiment-with-fixes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seen on the Right</a> as the best way to fix Obamacare. Graham was no fan of the ACA, as we saw. But he understood that a straight repeal was likely impossible, and instead focused his efforts on reform, giving relief to Americans priced out of the individual market and giving freedom to the states.
Graham was one of the last, but certainly not the only, Republican who affixed his name to a smart healthcare reform bill. Republican Senators Tom Coburn (OK), Richard Burr (NC), and Orrin Hatch (Utah) introduced their <a href="https://www.aei.org/articles/the-burr-coburn-hatch-proposal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eponymous reform bill</a> in 2014. When Coburn retired from the Senate later that year, Congressman Fred Upton (MI) <a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/unpacking-burr-hatch-upton-plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took his spot</a> on the legislation.
Neither version of the bill passed, and all of its sponsors have moved on. <a href="https://www.city-journal.org/article/cincinnatus-of-the-plains" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coburn died in 2020</a>, and Hatch followed two years later. Burr retired in 2022, Upton in 2023. And <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/voters-decide-fate-of-senator-who-voted-to-convict-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cassidy lost his primary</a> just this year, in a large part because he continued pushing nuanced but increasingly unpopular health care policies well into President Trump’s second term.
Republicans have yet to replace Graham and his fellow reformers. McCain’s no vote on Obamacare repeal temporarily chilled Republican reform efforts. Shortly thereafter, the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent election of Joe Biden would fundamentally reshape American health policy for the worse. The Republican Party, long willing to push for entitlement reform, fell captive to populist members and leaders who pledged to never cut Medicare and Medicaid. The ongoing vaccine debate has made hating the pharmaceutical industry a rare area of bipartisan agreement, a change that has all but ended any push for innovation or reform.
The result is that no one wants to fix health care anymore. Republicans are scared to upset the status quo, and Democrats, realizing that they’ve essentially won the war, have mostly pumped the brakes on their more radical attempts to push American health care to the Left, perhaps the last thing that would have motivated Republicans to make another push for reform.
Graham’s death did not cause or hasten any of these developments. But it is a stark reminder of what Republicans have lost, in the Senate and elsewhere. Graham was one of the last senators who consistently acted on the courage of his convictions, who was willing to do the complicated, ugly, and often unpopular work of real legislating and serious policymaking. His party changed and public opinion turned, but Lindsey Graham never stopped fighting for what he knew to be right and what he knew was best for the American people. May his legacy inspire other lawmakers to pick up his mantle.

Senate Lawmakers Speak To The Media After Their Weekly Policy Luncheons

One Of Lindsey Graham’s Biggest Conservative Battles

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DW Opinion

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Obituaries

Former first lady Jill Biden suggested during a recent interview that the White House health care team should have diagnosed former President Joe Biden&#8217;s advanced prostate cancer much earlier.
Jill Biden spoke with Rita Braver for an interview that aired on CBS News and discussed her husband&#8217;s diagnosis, which came just a few months after they left the White House in early 2025, and how the health care team could have missed the aggressive disease that had already metastasized to his bones.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WATCH: Jill Biden blames The White House&#8217;s medical team for missing Joe Biden&#8217;s cancer diagnosis
RITA BRAVER: So is it a big change? You were in The White House and you are living kind of a quiet life in Delaware?
JILL BIDEN: Well, it&#8217;s not exactly a quiet life. I mean, we are… <a href="https://t.co/khvdCKizAx">pic.twitter.com/khvdCKizAx</a>
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) <a href="https://x.com/BonillaJL/status/2061241509337296976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;So is it a big change?&#8221; Braver asked. &#8220;You were in the White House, and you are living kind of a quiet life in Delaware?&#8221;
&#8220;Well, it&#8217;s not exactly a quiet life. I mean, we are still doing a lot of things, writing, traveling, speaking. But then we come home, and this is our peaceful place, let&#8217;s put it that way,&#8221; Jill Biden replied, noting that she and the former president were certainly still keeping themselves busy.
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Braver provided the voice-over as the network cut to the next portion of the interview: &#8220;But there has not been a lot of peace for the Bidens.&#8221;
&#8220;Just four months after leaving office, President Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of stage four prostate cancer that had traveled to his bones,&#8221; Braver prompted, and Jill Biden affirmed that timeline. &#8220;How is the president doing now?&#8221;
&#8220;He is doing well. But it was a shock. I mean, Rita, honestly, I can remember getting the diagnosis, and it was just, it was shocking,&#8221; she explained.
Braver opened the door for Jill Biden to put the onus on the White House health care team: &#8220;Do you think that someone, when he was in The White House, should have discovered it, given him a test?&#8221;
&#8220;Well, you know, the doctors said that according to the American Urological Association, that men over 70 don&#8217;t need a PSA, a blood test anymore because it&#8217;s a slow-growing cancer. I have to say, Rita, I do feel we had amazing care in The White House, but somehow that was missed,&#8221; she replied.
&#8220;So you&#8217;re a little bit tense when it comes to his health, huh?&#8221; Braver pressed.
&#8220;I don’t know if the word is &#8216;tense,&#8217; but I think I’m vigilant,&#8221; Jill Biden replied.
The former first lady also recently revealed that she had worried that her husband might have been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-jill-biden-recalls-private-fear-during-biden-trump-debate">having a stroke</a> during his debate with President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-dismantles-jill-bidens-stroke-claim">Donald Trump</a>.
Trump challenged her in a Truth Social post, arguing that if she had truly been concerned for her husband&#8217;s health during the debate, she should have rushed out onto the stage to help him.
&#8220;She said that she thought he was having a ‘stroke,’ and various other really bad things, and yet never rushed onto the stage to help her troubled husband, as any good wife would do,&#8221; he said.

Joe Biden, Jill Biden

Jill Biden Says White House Docs ‘Missed’ Joe’s Cancer

Jill Biden Suggests White House Docs Should Have Caught Joe's Cancer Sooner

Cancer

Health

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Politics

Passengers aboard the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius have officially begun disembarking in Spain’s Canary Islands, marking a major development in the international health scare that has already left three people dead and prompted quarantine operations across multiple countries.
Spanish health officials <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/10/world-news/hantavirus-ridden-mv-hondius-cruise-ship-arrives-in-canary-islands-after-deadly-outbreak/">confirmed Sunday</a> that evacuation efforts were “proceeding normally” as passengers were escorted off the Dutch-flagged vessel in small groups under strict biosecurity measures. Travelers wore face masks and protective coverings while hazmat-suited crews transported them directly to quarantine flights waiting at Tenerife Airport.
The operation comes after days of uncertainty aboard the ship, which had effectively been stranded at sea while governments and health agencies coordinated where passengers could safely disembark and quarantine.
The outbreak has drawn global attention because the Andes strain of hantavirus — believed to be responsible for the infections aboard the Hondius — is one of the only known hantavirus variants capable of human-to-human transmission. While officials continue emphasizing that the public risk remains low, the scale of the response reflects fears of potential wider spread if the outbreak is mishandled.
The World Health Organization, CDC, and multiple national governments have all deployed personnel to oversee the evacuation and repatriation process.
As previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-health-officials-monitor-cruise-passengers-in-multiple-states-after-hantavirus-outbreak">reported</a> by The Daily Wire, several Americans who may have been exposed to the virus had already returned to the United States before the outbreak was fully understood. Those passengers, located in Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Arizona, and California, are being monitored by state health officials after disembarking earlier during a stop on Saint Helena, the island famous for Napoleon Bonaparte’s second exile and death. Oceanwide Expeditions, the company operating the Hondius, previously confirmed it was attempting to track all passengers and crew who boarded or left the vessel since March 20.
At least nine confirmed or suspected cases have now <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON600">been linked</a> to the outbreak, including three fatalities. Officials believe the outbreak likely began after an elderly Dutch couple contracted the virus during travel in Argentina before boarding the cruise ship. The husband later died aboard the vessel, while his wife became seriously ill after leaving the ship and later died in South Africa. Another passenger, a German national, also died after developing symptoms.
Several additional suspected cases have since emerged across Europe and elsewhere, while dozens of former passengers scattered across multiple countries are now being monitored during the virus’ lengthy incubation period, which can last up to eight weeks.
The first evacuees Sunday included Spanish passengers, who were transported to Madrid for quarantine at a military hospital. Americans are expected to be flown to Nebraska for monitoring and isolation at a specialized biocontainment unit. British, French, Australian, Dutch, Canadian, and other foreign nationals are also being repatriated under varying quarantine protocols.
Despite the dramatic scenes unfolding in Tenerife, including security perimeters around the vessel, hazmat suits, respirators, and decontamination procedures, health officials insist the outbreak does not resemble another COVID-style pandemic threat.
Hantavirus is typically spread through prolonged contact with infected rodent droppings or saliva and is far less contagious than airborne viruses such as COVID-19. However, the Andes strain can spread through prolonged close human contact, making health authorities especially cautious. The virus primarily attacks the lungs and respiratory system, often causing severe breathing complications. Some strains carry mortality rates approaching 40% to 50%.
Officials say no passengers currently remaining aboard the Hondius are showing symptoms, though authorities caution that infections could still emerge in the coming weeks as quarantines continue worldwide.

Sick passengers evacuated by boat from Cruise Ship in Cape Verde’s port

Hantavirus-Stricken Cruise Ship Docks In Canary Islands — What’s Next For Passengers

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Travel

A number of American cruise passengers who may have been exposed to hantavirus are being monitored at home after returning from the Dutch ship M.V. Hondius.
<a href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/07/us-news/americans-on-hantavirus-plagued-cruise-ship-return-home-to-three-states/">The passengers</a> — two in Texas, two in Georgia, one in Virginia, one in Arizona, and one in California — disembarked on the remote South Atlantic island of Saint Helena and are all reported to be in good health. They are still being monitored by health officials in their respective states, as life-threatening symptoms can still develop weeks after the initial exposure. None of the passengers were aware when they left the cruise ship that they might have been exposed.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the company that operates the Dutch cruise ship, released a statement on Thursday: &#8220;These disembarked guests have all been contacted by Oceanwide Expeditions. We are working to establish details of all passengers and crew who embarked and disembarked on various stops of M/V Hondius since March 20.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON599">Hantavirus</a> is most commonly transmitted through contact with rodent droppings, but the Andes virus — which primarily attacks the respiratory system and can carry a mortality rate of up to 50% — can be transmitted from person to person. The Andes virus, according to the World Health Organization, is responsible for the Hondius outbreak. Other strains of hantavirus can cause what&#8217;s known as Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), a condition that can cause the kidneys to shut down.
The ship has been stranded for several days — with travelers trapped on board — as officials determine when and where passengers will be permitted to disembark. The next destination is likely to be Spain&#8217;s Canary Islands.
Since the outbreak began, seven cases have been identified — two through lab testing and five through medical evaluation. According to the WHO, three of those patients have died and one still remains critical — and three more have had only mild symptoms of infection.
<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/07/world/hantavirus-ship-tenerife-outbreak-intl">Travelers in at least</a> seven other countries are also monitoring for signs of illness after leaving M.V. Hondius.

Hantavirus

Americans Across Several States Caught Up In Growing Cruise Ship Health Scare

U.S. Health Officials Monitor Cruise Passengers In Multiple States After Hantavirus Outbreak

World

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday temporarily restored access to the abortion pill mifepristone, blocking a federal appeals court ruling and teeing up a showdown at the high court.
On Friday, a three-judge panel of the ⁠Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a nationwide Biden-era policy allowing the abortion pill mifepristone to be prescribed online and delivered by mail. The court held that the regulation is likely unlawful and inflicts ongoing harm while litigation proceeds.
Over the weekend, manufacturers of the abortion drug filed emergency appeals asking the Supreme Court to intervene.
Acting alone, Justice Samuel Alito on Monday <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28093011-25a1207-admin-stay-and-cfr/">entered an administrative stay</a> of the Fifth Circuit ruling, which is a short-term, procedural order that freezes legal proceedings to maintain the status quo. 
The emergency order, set to expire next Monday, directs Louisiana to file briefs for consideration by the full court.
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the Biden administration expanded access to chemical abortion nationwide. Under the 2023 rules, mifepristone could be prescribed via telehealth and shipped without an in-person doctor visit.
The majority of abortions in the U.S. are obtained through medications, usually a combination of mifepristone and a second drug, misoprostol, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-mifepristone-supreme-court-louisiana-0533e83d67148fdfec53b1d0d30c1e8a">according to the Associated Press</a>. The policy aims to circumvent some of the abortion bans that conservative states have implemented.
Louisiana challenged the Biden-era policy under the Administrative Procedure Act, arguing the FDA relied on flawed or nonexistent data while eliminating safety protocols. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/court-issues-major-ruling-on-biden-abortion-pill-policy">The Daily Wire previously reported</a> that the agency acknowledged it had not adequately studied the safety of remote dispensing and is still conducting a review, with no clear timeline for completion.
The Fifth Circuit rejected the argument that courts should wait on the FDA’s ongoing review. Allowing the policy to continue, the panel argued, would effectively permit the agency to maintain a potentially unlawful regulation indefinitely.
“Every abortion facilitated by FDA’s action cancels Louisiana’s ban,” the court wrote, emphasizing that such sovereign harms cannot be undone.
The ruling outraged Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called the decision &#8220;<a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/2051307954926723410?s=20">an appalling overreach</a>.&#8221;
The Trump administration has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/justice-department-moves-to-shut-down-red-state-lawsuit-over-abortion-pill">defended the F.D.A. in court</a> as the agency conducts a new review of mifepristone. Some anti-abortion advocates have been frustrated with the speed of the review, putting the White House in an uncomfortable political position going into the November midterms.
Susan B. Anthony, a prominent Pro-Life group, blasted the Trump administration and called for the immediate termination of FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary.
&#8220;Indifference is completely unacceptable to millions of pro-life voters expecting the administration to act to save lives. Abortions are up, not down, after Dobbs, with at least 1.1 million deaths a year,&#8221; <a href="https://sbaprolife.org/newsroom/press-releases/sba-pro-life-america-intensifies-call-to-fire-makary">the group said in a statement</a>. &#8220;More than 90,000 abortions occur each year just in states that protect babies in the law throughout all nine months of pregnancy — a direct result of Biden’s Covid-era mail-order abortion drug rule, which the Trump administration inexplicably allows to continue.&#8221;
“This is a five-alarm crisis for the pro-life movement and for the GOP,&#8221; the group added. &#8220;The GOP cannot win without its base and simply will not get the enthusiasm that drives turnout without leadership from the top.&#8221;
In a statement to The Daily Wire, White House spokeswoman Allison Schuster said the Trump administration is closely following the litigation.
&#8220;In the meantime, the FDA continues to work on a rigorous, Gold Standard Science review to get to the bottom of widespread concerns about mifepristone,&#8221; Schuster said.

Abortion – Miscarriage

Supreme Court Takes Unusual Step As Legal Showdown Intensifies Over Mail-In Abortion Drug

Abortion Drug

Supreme Court

A doctor asked the Supreme Court to intervene in her battle against woke California medical education requirements she says stifle her free speech.
Dr. Azadeh Khatibi and the medical watchdog organization Do No Harm filed a <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/1032366223/Khatibi-Pet-for-Cert-1?_gl=1*158e1y2*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTg1NjQ4MTE0NS4xNzc3Mzg2MDE2*_ga_Z4ZC50DED6*czE3NzczODYwMTUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzczODYwMTckajU4JGwwJGgw*_ga_8KZ8BV0P5W*czE3NzczODYwMTUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzczODYwMTckajU4JGwwJGgw">petition</a> on Tuesday asking the Supreme Court to take up a case challenging continuing medical education requirements that mandate instructors teach doctors about “implicit bias,” which is the claim that a person can unconsciously discriminate against another. Khatibi argues that the requirements, which were signed into law by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, force medical professionals to push politically charged ideas.
“By mandating ideologically charged racial theories be taught in continuing medical education courses, California infringes on physicians’ free speech rights,” Do No Harm Chair Stanley Goldfarb told The Daily Wire. “We are asking the Supreme Court to intervene to protect these critical rights in the field of medicine. Doctors do not need lawmakers telling them what to think when providing medical advice to patients.”
The petition filed Tuesday wants the court to address the question of whether a state can “compel private professionals to convey a contested ideological message as a condition of teaching courses required for a professional license.” Khatibi and Do No Harm are both represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation.
The requirements being challenged say that those giving continuing medical education must give examples of “how implicit bias affects perceptions and treatment decisions of physicians and surgeons, leading to disparities in health outcomes,” or suggest strategies to address how “unintended biases in decision-making may contribute to health care disparities by shaping behavior and producing differences in medical treatment.”
Previous attempts to challenge the requirement at the federal district and appeals court levels have been unsuccessful. Those courts have said the requirements are part of the state’s prerogative to regulate medical practice.
The petition filed with the Supreme Court argues that the implicit bias mandate exceeds the state’s regulatory power.
“That sweeping ruling erases the constitutional boundary between government and private speech, threatens the speech rights of countless professionals, and directly conflicts with this Court’s precedents limiting the government speech doctrine and protecting against compelled speech,” the petition said.
Goldfarb said that there is no evidence of implicit bias in health care and that doctors should be trained to address each patient’s unique needs rather than focusing on race.
“There is no evidence so-called systemic implicit bias exists in health care, and propagating such debunked pseudoscience only deepens suspicion between patients and providers,” he said. “We urge the Court to take up our case and resolve California’s overreach once and for all.”

Governor Gavin Newsom in Hayward, California

Government Forcing Ideology Into Medicine Vs. Doctors’ Right To Think And Speak Freely

California

Courts

Gavin Newsom

U.S.

New York City&#8217;s most elite hospital gave more than a million dollars to an &#8220;anti-racist,&#8221; pro-LGBTQ+ theater company as it laid off a thousand workers, records reviewed by The Daily Wire show.
New York-Presbyterian has donated more than 1.3 million to the People’s Theatre Project since 2021, financial <a href="https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133957095/202543189349306204/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">records</a><a href="https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133957095/202413189349304986/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> show</a>. In October 2023, Dr. Steven J. Corwin, then president and CEO of the hospital system, pledged to give another million to the theater — an arts program that &#8220;centers immigrants and members of the Latine, Black, and Queer communities&#8221; — to build a state-of-the-art performance center.
As the hospital was bankrolling the &#8220;anti-racist&#8221; organization&#8217;s quest to &#8220;build a world where the oppressed can find Liberation,&#8221; it was struggling financially. In May 2025, it <a href="https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/newyork-presbyterian-to-cut-1000-employees/">announced</a> it was slashing 2% of its workforce, laying off 1,000 people. In 2026 it <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/16/nurses-describe-escalating-tension-as-nyc-strike-continues-00734336">came under fire</a> when it offered nurses a lower-than-requested annual raise, a cut the hospital blamed on the Trump administration&#8217;s economic policies.
In October 2025, Corwin <a href="https://www.nyp.org/news/newyork-presbyterian-leadership-transition-announcement">announced</a> he would step down in early 2026.
New York-Presbyterian&#8217;s reputation took a serious hit in the final years of Corwin&#8217;s 14-year tenure. It&#8217;s financial troubles came as it became one of the <a href="https://www.centernyc.org/urban-matters-2/enough-to-make-you-sick-curbing-high-private-hospital-costs#:~:text=New%20York%20City%27s%20private%20hospitals%20are%20some,than%20one%20percent%20of%20private%20hospital%20spending.">most expensive hospitals</a> in the country. In March 2026, the Justice Department <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-new-york-presbyterian-hospital-anticompetitive-contracts-increase">sued the hospital</a> for &#8220;anticompetitive contract restrictions that deny New Yorkers the choice of lower cost healthcare options.&#8221;
All the while, it was supporting the People’s Theatre Project.
In October 2023, Corwin appeared with New York Governor Kathy Hochul and &#8220;Hamilton&#8221; composer Lin-Manuel Miranda to pledge $1 million to the construction of the Centro Cultural Inmigrante, a 19,000-square-foot compound featuring multiple theaters and a gallery, meant to &#8220;amplify the voices of New York City’s diverse immigrant communities.&#8221; The State of New York contributed $4 million.
“NewYork-Presbyterian is proud to support the People’s Theatre Project, and we look forward to the future of the Centro Cultural Inmigrante,” Corwin said. “This will be a space where members of the community can come together to create meaningful social connections, build a sense of belonging, and help enrich the community and New York City through the arts.”
It is unclear if the hospital ever made the $1 million contribution. Neither NewYork-Presbyterian nor the People&#8217;s Theatre Project responded to a request for comment.
The relationship between the hospital and the radical arts organization dates back to 2009, when it was founded by Mino Lora, a leftist who has called for defunding the police and served on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani&#8217;s transition team. That year, New York-Presbyterian <a href="https://thepeoplestheatre.org/home/about-us/">partnered</a> with the group on &#8220;a health-focused theatre-making program for children ages 5–12.&#8221; New York Presbyterian’s Corporate Director of Community Affairs, Monica Hidalgo, serves on the theater&#8217;s board.
All told, NewYork-Presbyterian has given the People&#8217;s Theatre Project $1,312,500 since 2021. During that time, the theater has produced such plays as “The Diamond,” which “follows a group of detained immigrants who conspire against a dystopian government.” Earlier this month, it hosted a reading of the “Sombraluz,” a play about a marine whose life was “shaped by the trauma of Guantanamo Bay.”
The People&#8217;s Theater Project also hosts outright political events, including a “rapid response” and “safe space” to “share feelings, build resilience, and transform emotions into art&#8221; in the wake of President Donald Trump&#8217;s 2024 election. In January 2026, the theater hosted an “undoing racism” workshop.
&#8220;As an anti-racist organization, we believe in Equity for all,&#8221; the group&#8217;s website reads. &#8220;We see the full humanity and immense power that exists in immigrants, youth, people of color, the LGBTQIA community, and people living with disabilities. We work to build a world where the oppressed can find Liberation.&#8221;
The People&#8217;s Theatre Project<a href="https://thepeoplestheatre.org/education/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> works</a> with K-5 &#8220;young artists&#8221; to celebrate &#8220;their identities and communities&#8221; through theatre pieces and has a &#8220;social justice leadership program&#8221; for adolescents in grades 6-12. The organization also<a href="https://thepeoplestheatre.org/ptp-partnerships/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> partners</a> with elementary, middle, and high schools in New York City.
The organization views theatre &#8220;as a catalyst for change,&#8221; and its mission includes advocacy for progressive social causes such as dismantling systemic racism, immigrant rights, and LGBTQIA+ rights.
&#8220;Racial justice is an urgent priority because systemic racism persists in our society, perpetuating inequality at every turn,&#8221; the group&#8217;s <a href="https://thepeoplestheatre.org/advocacy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a> says. &#8220;Theatre serves as a powerful platform to confront and dismantle these injustices.&#8221;

Untitled design – 2026-04-24T124659.019

Hospital System That Laid Off 1,000 Staff Gave $1.3 Million To ‘Anti-Racist’ Theatre Group

Hospitals

New York

Zohran Mamdani

A senior official at the Department of Veteran Affairs pushed one of the largest healthcare companies in the country to improve its &#8220;diversity profile&#8221; while accepting thousands of dollars in poker chips and lavish gift cards from minority business executives, federal investigators say.
John Windom, a 64-year-old Navy veteran, was tasked with spearheading a billion-dollar revamp of the VA&#8217;s electronic health records system. He used that perch to steer business to his lover and rake in thousands of dollars worth of luxury gifts and push government contractors to embrace DEI, according to federal prosecutors. 
Windom, who is black, is accused of forming a self-described &#8220;Power Group&#8221; composed of executives from minority-owned businesses that allegedly sent him expensive gifts while some earned federal DEI contracts. These unreported gifts included $8,200 in Louis Vuitton gift cards, $2,000 in cash, a $631 HEPA filter, concert tickets, and $3,800 in casino chips, according to an indictment. 
Members of the Power Group were left anonymous in federal charging documents though one was described as a &#8220;romantic partner&#8221; of Windom. Some of the contracts with Power Group companies were related to the VA electronic record project, though not all were. 
Dr. Kurt Miceli, the chief medical officer of Do No Harm, told The Daily Wire that the case showed the danger of implementing DEI initiatives at the federal level. 

“Diversity initiatives in federal contracting elevate race, gender, or other demographic traits over merit and proven capability when awarding taxpayer‑funded work,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The result: set-asides and preferences that explicitly discriminate based on identity rather than awarding projects through competitive bidding and qualifications.&#8221;
Windom was, until recently, the executive director of the Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization at the VA. In August 2017, he was tasked with bringing the department&#8217;s records system — part of the VA&#8217;s notoriously broken healthcare system — up to par with the rest of the federal government.
Prior to his involvement with VA, Windom <a href="https://www.congress.gov/116/meeting/house/110555/witnesses/HHRG-116-AP18-Bio-WindomJ-20200227.pdf">rose</a> to the rank of captain in the Navy, where he mostly held HR-related management positions involving training personnel and overseeing the Pentagon&#8217;s electronic health record system overhaul. He retired from the Navy in 2017 to take the position with the VA.
Two years into leading the electronic records project, Windom allegedly created a “Power Group” of seven executives and employees from minority-owned businesses that contracted with VA. These executives gave Windom a variety of kickbacks while he worked to get them access to federal benefits, federal investigators said. One of the individuals, identified only as &#8220;Person 4,&#8221; was in a romantic relationship with Windom from August 2016 to December 2018. 
In communications with these executives, Windom reminded them that “loose lips sink ships,” asked one for concert tickets, and told another one to “get the f**k off this ride,” if the arrangement was making them uncomfortable, according to messages included in the indictment. 
“As alleged, the defendant exploited his senior position for personal gain and concealed gifts and financial relationships that created serious conflicts of interest in the health care of our nation’s veterans,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. “Such conduct is not only a betrayal of the public trust — it undermines confidence in the institutions dedicated to serving those who have sacrificed for this country.”
<div id="attachment_1074327" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1074327" class="size-full wp-image-1074327" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2259627360.jpg" alt="Jeanine Pirro, US attorney for the District of Columbia, speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. A man suspected of being responsible for the deadly 2012 attack against the American embassy in Benghazi, Libya, is in US custody, FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday." width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2259627360.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2259627360-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2259627360-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-2259627360-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Jeanine Pirro (Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images)</div>
Windom has been charged with concealment of material facts, false statements, and falsification of a record. His first court appearance is set for April 14. 
The <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/media/1432916/dl?inline">charges</a> come as the Trump administration moves to crack down on DEI practices among federal contractors. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/addressing-dei-discrimination-by-federal-contractors/">directing</a> that contractors not engage in &#8220;any racially discriminatory DEI activities” for federal government work. 
In June 2017, Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin announced that his department would adopt the same electronic health record standards as the Pentagon. Since that time the program has been plagued with problems, including ballooning costs and patient deaths. The program, which has been paused the last few years, is set to start up again this month. 
A few months after the project was announced, Windom was placed in charge. He directed $10 billion to be allocated to the company Cerner, which has since been acquired by Oracle, for the project. At the time, the contract was one of the biggest information technology contracts for the federal government. 
Soon after, investigators say he created the Power Group of minority business executives and employees. 
“Between August 2017 and June 2021, in multiple locations, Defendant WINDOM attended events with other Power Group members and routinely accepted personal benefits such as gifts, meals, alcohol, entertainment, and other services from members of the Power Group,” the indictment says. 
These events took place at restaurants and bars in and around the MGM National Harbor casino, as he used his position to “coerce” improper personal benefits, investigators said. He would routinely &#8220;demand&#8221; poker chips for games at the casino, the indictment alleges. 

<div id="attachment_1074335" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1074335" class="size-full wp-image-1074335" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1055654346.jpg" alt="OXON HILL,MD-NOV30: The first anniversary of the MGM Casino at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, November 30, 2017. (" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1055654346.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1055654346-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1055654346-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/GettyImages-1055654346-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />(Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)</div>
In November 2019, Windom asked for concert tickets for himself and another member of the Power Group from one of the business leaders, according to text messages.
“Damn near sitting on the stage,&#8221; he wrote the day of the concert. &#8220;You da man.&#8221;
These benefits were hidden from VA officials and the Office of Government Ethics, according to investigators. 
At the same time, Windom used his position “to encourage, monitor, and facilitate contracting and subcontracting opportunities for members of the Power Group,” both connected and not connected to the electronic health record project, the indictment said. 
While pushing for personal benefits from members of the Power Group, Windom allegedly pressured them “to make business decisions unrelated to” the electronic records project that “advanced” his “diversity objectives” before he “demanded to be rewarded.” 
He also “threatened economic and reputational harm to members of the Power Group, particularly but not only when they were not meeting his diversity-related networking expectations,” according to the indictment. 
In July 2018, Cerner entered into a diversity contract with Windom&#8217;s romantic partner as the lead after he “demanded” that it “improve its diversity profile and inclusion efforts,” the indictment said. Around that time, Cerner started increasing its DEI efforts and it released a DEI report in 2019 <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220411175937/https://www.cerner.com/-/media/cerner-media-united-states/pdf-downloads/cerner-hr-diversity-report-2019.pdf?vs=1&amp;hash=B80E8A916E1B68223F4AE46D6AA8CBDE701E80BD">showing</a> how the company took steps to &#8220;expand&#8221; on &#8220;diversity and inclusion efforts.&#8221;
In 2019, Windom allegedly worked to “pressure” a Power Group member “to complete diversity contract renewal negotiations with Cerner.”
Miceli said pushing DEI in contracting led to the most &#8220;qualified contractors&#8221; being sidelined and was particularly concerning when done in the healthcare realm. 
&#8220;When pushed aggressively at the federal level, DEI policies erode public trust, foster resentment, and violate core principles of equal treatment under the law, while inviting legal challenges and wasteful litigation that further burdens taxpayers,&#8221; he said. 
Messages included in the indictment paint a picture of Windom appearing to threaten Power Group members to stay silent about their relationship. 
In an October 11, 2017, message, Windom texted two Power Group members that one had made “a good comment to get you cut out” after that person suggested bringing another VA employee to where Windom was having drinks with a Power Group member. 
“Don’t mention to another person that you know me, interact with me or have any type of relationship with me,” he wrote on August 5, 2019.
One email included in the indictment appears to show that Windom was inadvertently announced to be in the audience of an event hosted by one of the Power Group members. 
“Weird last night. Not your fault personally but cleanup required. Can’t say I like [Person 4&#8217;s] cavalier response to these issues either. I was already exhausted but did not want to miss your event,” he wrote in an email. “The PA announcement of me let alone [Person 4] and me was ridiculous and did not kick the evening off right. I am a very discrete person as you know.”
<div id="attachment_1071187" style="width: 1197px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1071187" class="size-full wp-image-1071187" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-03-31-at-1.36.32-PM.png" alt="" width="1187" height="271" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-03-31-at-1.36.32-PM.png 1187w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-03-31-at-1.36.32-PM-300x68.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-03-31-at-1.36.32-PM-1024x234.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-03-31-at-1.36.32-PM-768x175.png 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1187px) 100vw, 1187px" />Indictment.</div>
In January 2020, Windom sent an email to the Power Group reminding them that “loose lips sink ships.” 
When one of the Power Group members expressed some concern about the contracting arrangement, Windom reacted angrily, according to a text message included in the indictment. 
“If you don’t like it, get off. You can get the f**k off this ride,” Windom said. 
In June and November 2021, Windom allegedly lied to federal law enforcement when they asked him if he had received any gifts from Power Group members. After being approached by investigators, Windom told Power Group members to tell law enforcement he paid for their meals, according to the indictment. 
Costs of the electronic health records project have quickly climbed from the $10 billion originally estimated. The department now estimates that costs could exceed $37 billion, while the Government Accountability Office <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2025/12/03/veterans-administration-va-hospitals-health/">said</a> costs could approach the hundreds of billions. 
Over 4,000 veterans have been harmed due to the health record modernization, which has led to four fatalities, <a href="https://fedscoop.com/va-ehr-six-cases-catastrophic-harm/">according</a> to lawmakers. The Government Accountability Office has continued to pressure the VA to take steps to speed up the rollout. 
The Daily Wire reached out to a publicly listed phone number for Windom and no lawyer has yet been listed yet in court records for his case.

MixCollage-08-Apr-2026-10-33-AM-4651

DEI, Louis Vuitton, And Casino Chips: Inside A Billion-Dollar VA Scandal

Corruption

Department of Justice

Department of Veterans Affairs

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

The nation’s top medical school accreditor has updated its standards, removing language related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements without issuing a formal public announcement.
The <a href="https://lcme.org/about/">Liaison Committee on Medical Education</a> (LCME), which accredits medical schools across the United States, recently uploaded its updated 2027–2028 standards to its website. The <a href="https://donoharmmedicine.org/2026/03/24/dei-mandates-lcme-standards/">changes</a> were first flagged by the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/a-welcome-setback-for-medical-dei-fbac8fa0">Wall Street Journal</a>.
Among the most notable revisions is the overhaul of Standard 7.6, which in the 2026–2027 guidelines required that “the medical curriculum provides opportunities for medical students to learn to recognize and appropriately address biases in themselves, in others, and in the health care delivery process.”
The prior standard went further, mandating that medical students be taught about “the importance of health care disparities and health inequities,” the “impact of disparities in health care on all populations,” and “approaches to reduce health care inequities.” It also required instruction in “culturally and structurally competent health care” and emphasized training to treat patients in a “multidimensional and diverse society.”
In the newly published standards, that language has been removed entirely. The updated version of Standard 7.6 contains no reference to diversity, bias, disparities, or inequities.
More broadly, much of Standard 7 was rewritten and reorganized, with all references to bias and inequities stripped from the section. The 2027–2028 standards document is dated March 13 and indicates the changes were made in March 2026, though the LCME has not publicly announced the revisions. The prior 2026–2027 standards, which include the original language, remain available on the organization’s website.
The rollback follows years of scrutiny from the medical watchdog group Do No Harm, which has criticized the role of DEI requirements in medical education. <a href="https://donoharmmedicine.org/2023/01/12/is-the-lcme-forcing-racial-quotas-on-medical-schools/">In 2023</a>, the group called for an investigation into the LCME, and in March 2025 released a report highlighting accreditation standards, including Sections 3.3 and 7.6, that it said promoted ideological priorities over merit-based training.
The changes come after President Donald Trump signed an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/reforming-accreditation-to-strengthen-higher-education/">executive order</a> aimed at reforming higher education accreditation, specifically naming the LCME and raising concerns about politicized standards. Shortly afterward, in May 2025, the LCME <a href="https://donoharmmedicine.org/2025/05/28/the-lcme-eliminates-key-diversity-requirement/">removed</a> Standard 3.3, which had required medical schools to maintain programs or partnerships focused on achieving diversity. At the time, however, Standard 7.6 remained in place.
The latest revisions appear to further that shift. “Do No Harm commends the LCME for finally removing the remaining DEI language from the latest version of its standards,” said Dr. Kurt Miceli, the organization’s chief medical officer, in a statement obtained by The Daily Wire. “This reflects a renewed commitment to high-quality clinical care over political ideology.”
“As a powerful institution with significant influence over medical education, the LCME has now made clear that scientific rigor and excellence are the top priorities — a change we have been advocating for years,” Miceli added. “This marks a major victory and step forward in the ongoing battle over the future of medical education in America.”
The LCME did not publicly comment on the changes or issue a press release announcing the updated standards. Critics say the changes reflect how rapidly the standards governing medicine and education are shifting amid <a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/trump-end-dei-state-of-the-union/813091/">political and regulatory pressure</a>. And given the LCME’s outsized role in determining whether medical schools remain accredited, even subtle changes to its requirements can have sweeping effects on how future physicians are trained.
With the removal of this language from both admissions-related and curriculum standards, the updated guidelines reflect a significant change in how the LCME frames its accreditation requirements. Supporters of the move say it refocuses medical education on clinical training, while critics have argued that such standards are important for addressing disparities in patient care.

Nurses

Medical Gatekeeper Faces Reckoning After Years Of ‘Woke’ Push

Do No Harm

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