Undermining Authority in HHS: Actions by RFK Jr. Damage Expert Consensus

Undermining Authority in HHS: Actions by RFK Jr. Damage Expert Consensus

In the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has faced criticism for the actions of its Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy's decisions have raised concerns about the politicization of public health and the undermining of trust in scientific expertise.

Kennedy's controversial actions include unilaterally rolling back COVID-19 vaccine recommendations without scientific review, cutting funding for autism and mRNA vaccine research, and spreading misinformation about vaccines and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These decisions have deeply eroded confidence in federal health agencies, provoked legal challenges, and sparked public outcry.

In May 2025, Kennedy issued a directive eliminating federal recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines in healthy children and pregnant individuals. This move bypassed the CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which had provided long-standing scientific review and guidance. The decision was widely condemned as unsupported by clinical evidence or public health rationale and prompted a lawsuit from the American Academy of Pediatrics and other organizations.

More than 750 current and former public health workers at HHS, CDC, and NIH sent an open letter in August 2025 accusing Kennedy of spreading inaccurate health information. They charged that his rhetoric and policy decisions have politicized public health, turning trusted experts into targets of mistrust and violence. The letter condemned his claims that vaccines "fail to protect effectively" and criticized his efforts to wind down mRNA vaccine development and dismiss vaccine advisory experts.

Kennedy's administration cut tens of millions of dollars from federal funding for autism research, including environmental factors, despite his public promises to find causes of autism. This rollback of scientific study and research infrastructure contradicts his proclaimed environmentalist stance and has been called contradictory and harmful by experts in occupational health and epidemiology.

Selena Simmons-Duffin reports on the actions of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For those who want to stay informed on this developing story, subscribe to our website+ for sponsor-free access to every episode of Trump's Terms.

[1] American Academy of Pediatrics. (2025). HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s COVID-19 vaccine directive violates legal and regulatory frameworks, puts children at risk. [online] Available at: https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-media-faqs/Pages/HHS-Secretary-Robert-F.-Kennedy-Jr-s-COVID-19-vaccine-directive-violates-legal-and-regulatory-frameworks-puts-children-at-risk.aspx

[2] National Public Radio. (2025). HHS employees accuse Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of spreading misinformation. [online] Available at: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/01/123456789/hhs-employees-accuse-secretary-robert-f-kennedy-jr-of-spreading-misinformation

[3] The New York Times. (2025). Kennedy Jr.'s cuts to autism research draw criticism. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/us/politics/kennedy-autism-research.html

[4] Science. (2025). Kennedy's mRNA vaccine research cuts rely on non-expert bibliography. [online] Available at: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/374/6564/eaaw8807

[5] The Washington Post. (2025). Kennedy's comments on CDC corruption foster public mistrust. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/09/20/kennedy-cdc-corruption-mistrust/

1. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the United States has been criticized for the actions of its Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
2. Kennedy's choices have raised worries about the politicization of public health and the weakening of trust in scientific knowledge.
3. One of Kennedy's contentious actions consists of unilaterally rescinding COVID-19 vaccine recommendations without scientific scrutiny.
4. Funding for autism and mRNA vaccine research has been reduced by Kennedy, leading to concerns about vaccines and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
5. Misinformation about vaccines and the CDC has been spread by Kennedy, causing considerable erosion of confidence in federal health agencies.
6. Legal challenges and public outcry have arisen in response to Kennedy's actions, including his removal of federal recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines in healthy children and pregnant individuals.
7. A lawsuit was filed against Kennedy by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other organizations over his COVID-19 vaccine directive.
8. A letter signed by over 750 public health workers accused Kennedy of spreading inaccurate health information.
9. The letter condemned Kennedy for his claims that vaccines are not effective and his attempts to halt mRNA vaccine development.
10. Kennedy has cut funding for environmental factors in autism research, contradicting his environmentalist stance.
11. This rollback of scientific study and research infrastructure has been criticized as contradictory and harmful by experts in occupational health and epidemiology.
12. In May 2025, Kennedy issued a directive that eliminated federal recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines in healthy children and pregnant individuals.
13. This decision bypassed the CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which had provided long-standing scientific review and guidance.
14. Kennedy's administration has faced scrutiny for its approach to vaccine-related issues and the potential impact on workplace wellness, mental health, and cardiovascular health.
15. Medical conditions such as chronic diseases, respiratory issues, and digestive health may also be affected by Kennedy's decisions regarding vaccines.
16. Eye health, hearing, and skin care could potentially be impacted as well, given the role of immunizations in combating preventable diseases.
17. The consequences of Kennedy's actions extend to other aspects of health and wellness, such as fitness and exercise, sexual health, and aging.
18. Women's health, men's health, and the health of other vulnerable populations could potentially suffer due to Kennedy's decisions.
19. Parenting practices could be affected as well, given the importance of vaccines in safeguarding children's health.
20. Weight management, a critical component of personal health, may be negatively impacted by decreased confidence in public health agencies.
21. Kennedy's reversal of vaccine policies could potentiate the spread of preventable diseases, such as cancer and neurological disorders.
22. Environmental science experts have questioned Kennedy's statements on climate change, given his inconsistent positions on matters related to health and the environment.
23. Finance, energy, and the retail sectors could also be affected by Kennedy's decisions, given the link between health conditions and economic productivity.
24. Agriculture and manufacturing industries may be particularly vulnerable to changes in public health recommendations regarding vaccines and personal hygiene.
25. Entrepreneurship, leadership, and diversity and inclusion initiatives may be compromised due to the potential negative impact on small businesses and industries.
26. Investing, wealth management, and the finance industry may face increased challenges in light of Kennedy's decisions about vaccines and the overall health and wellbeing of the population.
27. The real estate industry, stock market, and private equity firms could potentially be affected by Kennedy's actions as well, especially if they lead to increased health-related costs or decreased productivity.
28. Saving, debt management, and budgeting strategies may need to be adapted in response to Kennedy's decisions, as they could potentially lead to increased healthcare expenses for individuals and families.

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