RFK Jr.’s war on scientific expertise destroyed 27% of agency’s advisor panels

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long been known for his anti-vaccine stance and lacks formal training in science or public health, has made significant changes to health advisory panels during his tenure as health secretary. One of his most controversial moves was the dismissal of all 17 independent experts from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in June. This committee plays a crucial role in setting federal vaccination guidelines, influencing insurance coverage, and shaping state school vaccination requirements. Following the firings, Kennedy filled the ACIP with individuals who predominantly share his anti-vaccine beliefs, leading to a series of disorganized meetings where they voted on changes to vaccine policies without any scientific foundation. This blatant manipulation of the committee prompted a federal judge to temporarily block the newly appointed members and the controversial changes they implemented in CDC guidelines. However, the issues surrounding ACIP are just the tip of the iceberg. According to a recent report from the watchdog group Public Citizen, under Kennedy's leadership, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has dissolved 75 federal advisory committees. This figure represents approximately 27% of the 273 independent expert panels that inform scientific agendas, regulations, and health policies within HHS. Notably, the majority of the terminated committees were associated with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where Kennedy disbanded 49 panels that were essential for assessing scientific grant applications. A study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins has revealed that, as of March 3, the NIH has issued 74% fewer competitive or new grants compared to the average during the same timeframe from fiscal years 2021 to 2024, as highlighted in a report by Stat News.