The Department of Health and Human Services is closing its office focused on long COVID. The department said closing the office was part of an agency reorganization effort.
“We are writing to let you know that the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice will be closing as part of the administration’s reorganization coming this week,” a memo announcing the closure obtained by Politico said. “We are proud of what we have accomplished together advancing understanding, resources, and support for people living with Long COVID.”
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Long COVID is a chronic health condition that refers to lingering symptoms persisting for at least three months after contracting COVID-19.
The exact number of people living with the condition is unknown. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes that 6% of adults in the United States suffer from some form of long COVID. The National Institutes of Health estimates as many as 23 million people are living with the illness.
The Office of Long COVID Research and Practice was established in 2023 by former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra under former President Joe Biden.
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During his Senate confirmation hearing, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged to continue investing in long COVID research. The move to shutter the agency has angered some who suffer from the illness.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), who has long Covid, told Politico the “decision to abandon Long COVID efforts that support and improve care for the millions of Americans suffering from this condition is unacceptable.”