WATCH: Senate Appropriations Committee holds hearing with Xavier Becerra about HHS budget
Becerra detailed a $25 billion proposed increase in funding for the department to bring its total to about $131.7 billion in discretionary budget.
US waives FBI checks on caregivers at new migrant facilities
The Biden administration is not requiring FBI fingerprint background checks of caregivers at its rapidly expanding network of emergency sites to hold thousands of immigrant teenagers, alarming child welfare experts who say the waiver compromises safety.
WATCH: Surgeon general, assistant HHS secretary nominees testify before Senate
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Feb. 25 will consider the nominations of Vivek Murthy for U.S. Surgeon General and Dr. Rachel Levine for assistant secretary of Health and Human Services.
U.S. tries to expedite release of migrant children amid surge
With its long-term facilities for immigrant children nearly full, the Biden administration is working to expedite the release of children to their relatives in the U.S.
A pediatrician and former Pennsylvania physician general, Levine was appointed to her current post by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in 2017, making her one of the few transgender people serving in elected or appointed positions nationwide.
State and local governments will be receiving their first infusion of federal money to support vaccination efforts against the coronavirus.
Approximately 2 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been allocated for jurisdictions to use next week.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has come under renewed scrutiny for attempts to influence official guidance, reportedly over the objections of government scientists.
He apologized on Wednesday to his staff for a Facebook video in which he reportedly said scientists battling the coronavirus are conspiring against President Donald Trump and warned of shooting in America if Trump were to lose the November election.
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