Health and Human Services Department

Sherburne County commissioners are considering a 9.6% property tax levy increase for 2027, driven by unfunded state and federal mandates and inflationary costs in the Health and Human Services Department. Residents expressed concern over the potential hike, citing financial strain despite the area's perceived affluence.

An FDA advisory panel will discuss allowing compounding pharmacies to manufacture seven peptides currently deemed unsafe. The panel includes members with potential conflicts of interest, such as physicians who prescribe peptides and Tennessee state Sen. Bobby Harshbarger, whose mother, U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, advocates for looser peptide regulations.

Thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children risk losing legal representation as the Trump administration withholds $65 million in Congress-approved funds. The delay forces children to represent themselves in immigration court, increasing deportation risks, and has led to legal aid organizations halting partnerships due to lack of reimbursement.

The Health and Human Services Department rescinded a freeze on $10 billion in federal funding for five states, allowing access to child care and social services. The department voided measures that previously limited the states' access to these funds.

GOP lawmakers are urging Trump’s FDA to ensure clinical trials include diverse participants. The Trump administration removed DEI references from HHS websites, but supporters argue clinical trial diversity focuses on patient similarity, not hiring or social initiatives.

Thousands of Health and Human Services Department staff have had their employment status changed to a designation that allows easier termination, increasing vulnerability to political pressure from the White House. The reclassification, part of an executive order by President Trump, aims to shift power toward the executive branch by creating a new class of at-will federal employees.