WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal health leaders moved on two major fronts this past week, reshaping national vaccine policy oversight while injecting hundreds of millions of dollars into the country’s mental health crisis response system.
On January 13, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the appointment of two physicians to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a panel that plays a central role in guiding U.S. immunization recommendations. The additions come as part of a broader effort by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reconstitute the committee following its overhaul last year, a move officials say is aimed at restoring public trust and reinforcing scientific rigor.
The new members are Dr. Adam Urato, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist with academic ties to Harvard Medical School, Tufts University School of Medicine, and the University of South Florida, and Dr. Kimberly Biss, an obstetrician-gynecologist from St. Petersburg, Florida, who has held senior hospital leadership roles and published on COVID-19 vaccine safety in pregnancy.
“ACIP serves as Americans’ watchdog for vaccine safety and transparency,” Kennedy said, adding that the new members bring the clinical experience and independence needed to guide evidence-based decisions. Deputy HHS Secretary and Acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill said the appointments align with President Donald Trump’s directive to ground the childhood immunization schedule in what he called “gold-standard science.”
ACIP advises the CDC director and HHS secretary on the use of vaccines to control preventable diseases across the civilian population, recommendations that often shape coverage decisions and clinical practice nationwide.
The same day, another HHS division announced a major expansion of federal support for Americans in crisis. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration unveiled a $231 million funding opportunity to administer the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the nationwide system that has rapidly become a cornerstone of the country’s mental health response.
Since launching in July 2022, the 988 Lifeline has handled more than eight million contacts in 2025 alone, connecting callers, texters, and chat users with trained crisis counselors through a network of more than 200 local contact centers.
“The 988 Lifeline remains one of our most important commitments to Americans in crisis,” Kennedy said. “988 exists to save lives.”
The three-digit hotline was established by the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, signed into law by President Trump in 2020, and provides round-the-clock access to support for mental health, substance use, and suicidal crises. People can call or text 988 or use online chat at https://988lifeline.org. ASL users can access the service through approved video relay providers.
Federal data underscore the scale of the challenge. In 2024, more than 21 million adults experienced a major depressive episode, nearly 48 million people reported a past-year substance use disorder, and an estimated 14.3 million adults had serious thoughts of suicide, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
SAMHSA leaders said the new funding is intended to ensure the 988 system remains reliable, responsive, and capable of meeting rising demand. Christopher D. Carroll, the agency’s principal deputy assistant secretary, said each call represents a chance to intervene at a critical moment.
Taken together, the twin announcements reflect a health agenda focused both on long-term policy credibility — through changes to vaccine advisory leadership — and immediate lifesaving impact, as federal officials double down on crisis intervention infrastructure.
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