Maine Senator Angus King (I) has joined a group of his Independent and Democratic Senate colleagues in calling upon Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to bring what they describe as a “key federal oversight group” out of dormancy.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) – self-described as a “scientifically independent, volunteer panel” responsible for “making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services” – has been inactive for a year.
Signing onto this letter alongside Sen. King are U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D- IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Jackie Rosen (D-NV).
In their letter, the senators ask Secretary Kennedy for details regarding the task force’s required annual report to Congress, as well as the justification for the cancellation of two previously scheduled meetings last year.
They also inquire as to whether any changes will be made to how the task force prepares recommendations based on the President’s Executive Orders on DEI, as it typically takes into account factors such as age, gender, and race when “the scientific evidence suggests that certain populations are at greater risk for the disease of concern.”
“Since its inception in 1984, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF or Task Force) has issued nearly 300 evidence-based recommendations across 90 different topics to support preventive care, ensure that health care services are affordable, and help people live longer, healthier lives,” the senators wrote in their letter.
“As a result of Task Force recommendations, preventive health services are accessible for all Americans and save lives through screenings for heart disease, screenings for breast, colorectal, cervical, and lung cancer, folic acid supplements for pregnant women to prevent birth defects, behavioral counseling, prevention of maternal depression, childhood vision screenings, adult diabetes screenings, and many more,” they added.
“You have said you aim to ‘Make America Healthy Again’ by addressing chronic disease,’ they wrote. “However, you are not prioritizing the maintenance, support, and continuation of the USPSTF.”
“Preventive services can help people avoid acute illness, identify and treat chronic conditions, prevent cancer as well as lead to earlier detection, improve health outcomes, and reduce the burden of end-stage chronic disease,” the senators concluded. “To that end, we look forward to hearing from you in response to these questions, and urge that the administration prioritize resuming the cost- and life-saving work of the Task Force.”
The senators are asking Kennedy to provide answers to their questions by April 15, 2026.
