Trump plans to close long COVID office at HHS

The Trump administration plans to close the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice as part of a reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This decision was announced in an email from Ian Simon, who leads the office. He expressed pride in the work done to support those affected by long COVID. The exact date of the office's closure is still unknown. It is also unclear if the current staff will keep their jobs with the federal government. The office, created during the Biden administration, focused on understanding and helping those with long-term COVID symptoms. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had previously stated his commitment to funding long COVID research during his confirmation hearing. However, President Trump later ordered the termination of an advisory committee related to long COVID. Recently, the National Institutes of Health reported significant funding for research on long COVID, which affects millions in the U.S. According to estimates from 2023, around 23 million Americans suffer from the condition.