CMA Warns Federal Cuts to American Academy of Pediatrics Undermine Children’s Health

Physician leaders across California are raising serious concerns following the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to terminate millions of dollars in federal grant funding to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a move they warn will weaken the public health infrastructure that protects children nationwide.

The California Medical Association (CMA) condemned the decision, noting that the eliminated grants supported evidence-based pediatric programs focused on preventing sudden infant death, identifying autism early, improving adolescent and mental health, and strengthening care for children and families.

CMA President René Bravo, MD, a practicing pediatrician, emphasized the real-world consequences for patients and physicians.

“As a pediatrician, I am deeply concerned by the federal government’s decision to terminate critical funding for the American Academy of Pediatrics,” Dr. Bravo said. “These grants supported essential, evidence-based work that protects children’s health. CMA stands with the AAP in urging federal leaders to reconsider actions that risk weakening the public health infrastructure children depend on. Decisions affecting child health must be guided by science, medical expertise, and the best interests of patients, not politics.”

Why This Matters to Los Angeles Physicians

For physicians practicing in Los Angeles County, the impact of these funding cuts is immediate and tangible.

Los Angeles serves one of the largest pediatric Medi-Cal populations in the nation, with more than half of children statewide relying on public insurance and even higher concentrations in communities such as South LA, East LA, and parts of the San Fernando Valley. These children depend heavily on prevention-focused care, early screening, and coordinated public health support—systems reinforced by AAP guidance and resources.

At the same time, large portions of Los Angeles County are designated Health Professional Shortage Areas for primary care, including pediatrics. Underserved neighborhoods such as South LA, East LA, the Antelope Valley, and Central Los Angeles face fewer pediatricians per child, longer wait times, and limited access to behavioral health and subspecialty services. In these settings, AAP-developed tools and clinical guidance help physicians manage high patient volumes and identify risks early. Removing that support places additional strain on already overstretched practices.

Local public health leaders also continue to report growing challenges related to vaccine confidence and delayed preventive care, particularly in communities facing language barriers, immigration stress, and misinformation. When prevention infrastructure weakens, physicians see the downstream effects through delayed diagnoses, higher-acuity illness, and increased emergency department utilization.

Standing Up for Children’s Health

Physician leaders warn that dismantling evidence-based pediatric programs risks reversing decades of progress in reducing preventable illness and death. LACMA+CMA continue to advocate for policies grounded in science, clinical expertise, and the realities of patient care in Los Angeles communities.

For physicians across pediatrics, family medicine, emergency medicine, and subspecialty care, the message is clear: decisions made at the federal level have direct consequences in exam rooms and hospitals across Los Angeles County. Protecting children’s health requires sustained investment in prevention, trusted medical guidance, and a public health system that puts patients first.