Ranking Member Scott Demands RFK Jr. to Reinstate Staff who Set Federal Poverty Guidelines
WASHINGTON – Today, House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) expressed grave concern to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., following the Trump Administration’s decision to eliminate the entire staff of the team within the Office of the Assistance Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) who set federal poverty guidelines.
Poverty guidelines help to establish eligibility criteria for a wide-ranging number of federal programs ensuring they use the most up to date data. Abruptly laying off these staff could upend benefits for tens of millions of families, low-income individuals, seniors, people with disabilities, children, and pregnant women.
“Without dedicated and expert staff ensuring these updates are done in a timely and accurate manner, disruptions to service delivery are inevitable,” wrote Ranking Member Scott.
“Any staffing changes that disrupt the HHS’ ability to fulfill its statutory obligations, including setting and regularly updating the federal poverty guidelines, contradict congressional intent,” wrote Ranking Member Scott. “I oppose the unilateral action that would disrupt the production of this crucial measure of poverty and threaten assistance for our nation's struggling children and families.”
Medicaid, Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidies, the Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs, Head Start, the Community Services Block Grant, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program are just some of the programs that could be impacted by the Trump Administration’s ill-conceived termination of the federal team.
Ranking Member Scott also demanded the immediate reinstatement of all workers who ensure federal programs work as intended.
To read the full letter, click here.
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