The Federal Long COVID Office Is Closing—Here’s What We Know
The Office of Long COVID Research and Practice (OLC)—established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in August 2023—is now scheduled to shut down. Internal communications confirmed that the office will wind down operations as part of a broader reorganization, though a specific end date has not been announced.
Post-viral illness is not a new phenomenon; COVID-19 is simply the most recent virus to trigger chronic symptoms in a significant number of people.
The decision to establish the office was grounded in both science and precedent. Its planned closure raises concerns about whether hard-earned momentum in research, treatment development, and patient care will be sustained.
Given the historical underrecognition of post-viral conditions like ME/CFS, some worry that long COVID may follow the same path: met with skepticism, fragmented care, and insufficient federal investment—even as evidence continues to grow.
What the Federal Long COVID Office Closure Means for People With Long COVID
The planned closure of the OLC has significant implications for people living with long COVID, as well as for researchers and clinicians working to understand and address the condition.
How the Office’s Closure Impacts Federal Research Coordination
The OLC aligned activities across multiple agencies, including the CDC, NIH, and VA. Without this centralized leadership:
Research efforts may become less coordinated, risking duplication or gaps.
Clinical guidance may vary widely, affecting patient care quality.
Patients and providers may struggle to access consolidated resources on long COVID.
Long COVID Research, Treatment, and Funding: What’s at Risk
The OLC was tasked with implementing the National Research Action Plan on Long COVID, which was released in August 2022 and developed by 14 federal agencies. The office’s closure could:
Slow the development of diagnostic tools and treatments.
Disrupt long-term planning for clinical trials and data sharing.
Reduce federal focus on the intersection between long COVID and chronic illnesses, including autoimmune conditions.
Why Advocates Are Concerned About HHS’s Long COVID Strategy
Advocates worry that shuttering the office may reduce visibility and urgency around long COVID:
Without a dedicated office, long COVID may receive less emphasis in public health agendas.
Policy decisions may become fragmented, with varying approaches across states and systems.
It may be harder to amplify patient voices in federal policy conversations.
“While our office is closing, we hope that the work we have been dedicated to will continue in some form,”read an internal message from OLC Director Ian Simon.
What’s Next for Long COVID Research and Advocacy
Although the OLC is set to close, we hope to see work on long COVID continue with clinicians and researchers remaining engaged through academic and nonprofit collaborations, the NIH RECOVER Initiative remaining a key research hub, and advocacy groups continuing to push for funding, visibility, and patient support.
If the OLC page disappears—as many other federal health resources have recently—we’ve preserved the available materials for continued access.
