Health department accused of putting ideology before evidence

Senate Democrats are claiming that the United States Department of Health and Human Services is making policy decisions based on ideology, rather than science.

The claims are being made by Democrats on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The committee’s ranking Democrat Patty Murray has called the health department’s strategic plan for 2018-22 extreme and ideological and said that it undermines quality care.  

“From emphasizing ideology over science and evidence, to removing any mention of LGBTQ health needs, to doubling down on health care sabotage and political attacks on women’s health—this plan is completely counter to the department’s mission in fundamental ways,” Murray said in a statement published on 20 April.