- As the government funding deadline nears, Congress is finalizing plans for a continuing resolution or an omnibus spending package.
- Congress will soon vet key health appointees for the incoming administration, with confirmation hearings set for early January.
- As the White House, Congress, and administration shift, STS is updating its advocacy priorities to align with the changing legislative and regulatory landscape.
As the government funding Dec. 20 deadline approaches, Congress is working to finalize plans for either a continuing resolution (CR) or an omnibus spending package. House Republicans are advocating for a CR that would extend funding through March, allowing the new GOP trifecta (President, House, and Senate) to have greater leverage in the upcoming year. In contrast, others prefer an omnibus package to secure key funding priorities before the transition. Recently, STS sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging the inclusion of important measures that could significantly impact cardiothoracic surgeons and their patients.
Congress soon will begin vetting key health appointees for the incoming administration- with confirmation hearings scheduled to start in early January. These nominations will be crucial in shaping federal healthcare policies over the next four years. Sen. John Thune (R-SD), recently elected Senate Majority Leader, will oversee this consideration. He succeeds Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who has led Senate Republicans since 2007. Thune has extensive experience in healthcare policy, having championed initiatives such as prior authorization reform, improvements in Medicare physician payments, telehealth expansion, and support for rural healthcare.
Key White House appointments include:
- HHS Secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a 2024 presidential rival and environmental attorney known for his outspoken views on public health
- CMS Administrator: Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon, media personality, and former member of the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition
- CDC Director: Dr. Dave Weldon, an Army veteran, physician, and former congressman
- FDA Commissioner: Dr. Marty Makary, a surgical oncologist who has been vocal on many public health issues over the years, including the government response to COVID-19
- Surgeon General: Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, an emergency medicine specialist, medical director for a chain of urgent care clinics, and media contributor
As we prepare for a new Congress and administration, STS is updating its advocacy priorities to align with the evolving legislative and regulatory landscape. We invite our members to help shape these priorities for the upcoming year. Please send your feedback to advocacy@sts.org to ensure our advocacy agenda continues to meet the needs of cardiothoracic surgeons and their patients.
Latest Advocacy News
- STS-PAC supported candidates were overwhelmingly successful in the 2024 elections. More than 95% of supported candidates won their elections, including four new physician members of Congress!
- Beginning in January 2026, the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) will impact cardiothoracic surgeons performing coronary artery bypass grafts, as well as a limited number of other specialties. Check out this 8 in 8 Series video for essential details about the TEAM model for STS members.
- Registration is available for the 2025 Advocacy Conference. The 2025 STS Advocacy Conference will take place in Washington, DC, March 3-4. STS members will meet with members of the new Congress and their staff to help influence healthcare policy and champion causes important to CT surgeons and their patients. Attendees will receive training for their meetings and opportunities to engage with STS leadership. Twenty scholarships will be available for residents and early-career surgeon attendees.
- In STS's new podcast, Thinking Thoracic, host Dr. Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang discusses CHI Memorial's "Breathe Easy" initiative with Dr. Robert Headrick, chair of STS's health policy workforce and how to bring more programs to communities across the country. Listen to this podcast.