In a controversial move, the Department of Health and Human Services has slashed $12 million from its Office of Minority Health to help cover rising security costs for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to The Wall Street Journal.

The Journal cited people familiar with the matter and a document it reviewed.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from the leaders of the congressional Black, Hispanic and Asian Pacific American caucuses. There’s no explanation for why the funds were cut earlier this year, yet no one — not even the members of Congress who appropriate the funds — made this information public before this month.

The cuts also come as the office, created in the 1980s to address racial health disparities such as high Black infant mortality, is also cutting grant fundsprograms that support health programs for Black Americans and HBCUS.

In August, HHS notified 16 nonprofits and universities that it had canceled their grants, citing “limited” funding and new priorities. 

The office is now focusing on “the root causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions,” including “low sperm count” and “erectile dysfunction,” along with promoting physical activity, the letters said.

Democratic Reps. Grace Meng of New York, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, along with Adriano Espaillat of New York, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Yvette Clarke of New York, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, issued a joint statement on the grant cancellations.

Kennedy “took money from babies to beef up his entourage,” according to the statement. “We should be used to it by now — Kennedy has been the most incompetent, irresponsible and out-of-touch secretary to ever hold this office.”

The representatives also noted that the Journal reported Kennedy “went after the Office of Minority Health funds rather than tap his office’s existing discretionary funds.” 

Adding insult to injury, “HHS canceled minority health grants to universities — research on infant mortality — to prioritize the secretary’s misguided personal agenda, including research on erectile dysfunction,” according to the statement. 

Brad Woodhouse, president of the nonprofit Protect Our Care, said in a statement that Kennedy chose “for his own benefit” to take away funds that provided health resources set aside for “the most vulnerable.” 

“Somehow RFK Jr. can always find plenty of tax dollars for flying high in military jets or promoting his own brand,” Woodhouse said. Kennedy, he continued, “would rather help himself to money meant to fix gross health disparities in underserved communities of color.” 

“The Trump administration always comes after resources for women, people of color, and those with disabilities first,” yet “their own grift, vanity projects, and billionaire tax breaks are strictly off limits,” according to the statement.

Sources told The Journal that Kennedy’s security costs reportedly soared from roughly $10 million in 2025 to $17 million this year — an increase of more than 50%. To pay for it, his office reportedly drained millions of dollars from OMH, even though the department had access to a large pot of discretionary money. 

People familiar with the matter told The Journal that Kennedy chose to tap the minority health funds partly because of agency-wide budget cutscuts, said.

In the past, agents from the HHS inspector general’s office protected the agency’s secretary for roughly $5 million a year, according to The Journal report. The office added more security shortly after Kennedy took office last year, but Kennedy asked the U.S. Marshals Service to provide his protection instead. 

Cabinet-level officials, such as Betsy DeVos, who was Trump’sTrump’sr education secretary during his first term, occasionally received marshals’ protection. DeVos received marshals’ protection following threats.

“Secretary Kennedy faces a security environment that differs significantly from that of previous HHS secretaries,” HHS spokeswoman Emily Hilliard told the Journal. “His protection reflects the threats he faces, his extensive travel, and the security required for him to safely carry out his duties nationwide.”

The department also asked Congress to approve an additional $14 million in next year’s budget to cover “enhanced physical security of HHS Headquarters and its staff.” 

Kennedy stopped speaking at outdoor events after a man rushed toward him during a press event last year. But he still travels often to promote the administration’s “Take Bank Your Health” program and to speak to anti-vaccine groups.

The Office of Minority Health has an annual budget of roughly $74 million approved last year after the Trump administration previously attempted to shrink the office by 40%. The administration first tried to close it outright, but Congress prevented it. 

Canceling OMH grants to colleges and universities would eliminate roughly $38 million in funding for programs addressing health disparities, including maternal and infant health, health care access in rural communities, treatment and prevention strategies for substance use disorder, and food insecurity for underserved communities. 

The grants also funded delivery of fresh vegetables, chronic-disease screenings, at-home nurse visits for new mothers, and other preventive care for low-income populations.

 In a letter demanding an explanation, 35 members of Congress argued that the mission of the minority health office — eliminate healthcare disparities by partnering with communities and supporting programs that help narrow the gap —remains urgent. 

“It is alarming that, instead of addressing the continued need for services that make a life-and-death difference in American communities, your office will redirect this funding to prioritize only “addressing the root causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions and promoting physical activity.”  

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