RFK Jr. Fires Heads of Key Preventive Health Task Force, Raising Concerns About Care Access

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed the chair and vice chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force this week. The task force is the independent panel responsible for determining which preventive medical services must be covered at no cost to patients under the Affordable Care Act.

The firings were conveyed through letters sent earlier in the month. The Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately explain the reason for the dismissals.

The task force makes recommendations on screenings, counseling, and preventive medications based on scientific evidence. Its recommendations determine which services insurance plans must cover without charging patients a copay or deductible. Services covered include cancer screenings, blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests, and vaccines.

Doctors and patient advocates expressed concern that the firings could disrupt the task force's work and potentially affect access to no-cost preventive care for millions of Americans.

"The task force is supposed to be independent and science-based," said one physician who works in preventive medicine. "Political interference in its leadership is a serious concern."

The firings come as the Trump administration has made several changes to federal health agencies. The FDA saw its commissioner resign over the approval of fruit-flavored nicotine vapes. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices also saw its amended charter withdrawn.

Kennedy has been a vocal critic of the medical establishment and has questioned the evidence base for several standard medical recommendations. His tenure at HHS has been marked by significant personnel changes and policy shifts.

The American Academy of Family Physicians and other medical organizations called on the administration to restore the task force's independence and ensure its work continues without political interference.