Category: RFK Jr.
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In internal call, CDC employees recount shooting, ask about RFK Jr.’s response
In internal call, CDC employees recount shooting, ask about RFK Jr.’s response WASHINGTON — Leaders of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday told staff that the agency’s campus had reopened in the wake of the Friday attack by a gunman — and suggested more security measures would be put in place. On…
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CDC shaken after gunman attacks its headquarters
CDC shaken after gunman attacks its headquarters This article was updated on Aug. 9. A gunman attacked the main campus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on Friday, further shaking an agency in the midst of a tumultuous year. Read the rest… Daniel Payne Go to statnews
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STAT+: Vinay Prasad returns to the FDA, weeks after his ouster
STAT+: Vinay Prasad returns to the FDA, weeks after his ouster WASHINGTON — Vinay Prasad is returning to the Food and Drug Administration to resume his role overseeing vaccine, gene therapy, and blood product regulation. “At the FDA’s request, Dr. Vinay Prasad is resuming leadership of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research,” Health and…
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HHS cites list of studies as scientific justification for cancellation of mRNA vaccine contracts
HHS cites list of studies as scientific justification for cancellation of mRNA vaccine contracts WASHINGTON — Federal health officials are citing an extensive list of studies purported to document harms caused by messenger RNA vaccines as scientific justification for canceling hundreds of millions of dollars in investment in the technology. Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy…
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STAT+: Kennedy’s rejection of mRNA vaccines thwarts scientific progress — and threatens national security, experts say
STAT+: Kennedy’s rejection of mRNA vaccines thwarts scientific progress — and threatens national security, experts say Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision this week to discontinue funding of the development of messenger RNA vaccines has alarmed scientists, who have warned that it will leave the country far less prepared for future pandemics. But it is…
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STAT+: Unpacking Trump’s approach to health care oversight
STAT+: Unpacking Trump’s approach to health care oversight You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I was reminded recently of why I dig mass transit upon overhearing the train conductor and…
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STAT+: Health secretary RFK Jr. shuts door on U.S. investment in mRNA vaccine research
STAT+: Health secretary RFK Jr. shuts door on U.S. investment in mRNA vaccine research This is a developing story. It will be updated. Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday announced that the government’s emergency preparedness agency will no longer fund work on messenger RNA vaccines, delivering a crippling blow to the country’s capacity…
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STAT+: Senators leave RFK Jr.’s MAHA agency out of 2026 budget in apparent snub
STAT+: Senators leave RFK Jr.’s MAHA agency out of 2026 budget in apparent snub WASHINGTON — Senate appropriators seemingly snubbed an effort by health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reorganize certain primary care and chronic health programs into a new agency known as the Administration for a Healthy America. Instead, a fiscal 2026 budget…
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STAT+: Inside the fall of Vinay Prasad at the FDA
STAT+: Inside the fall of Vinay Prasad at the FDA Vinay Prasad had a problem. Several, actually. His staff at the Food and Drug Administration kept leaking to the press. He was under attack by President Trump’s allies after moving to pull a gene therapy off the market. Democrats were not happy with his Covid…
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STAT+: Preventive care panel could be restructured ‘imminently’ as RFK Jr. vets new members
STAT+: Preventive care panel could be restructured ‘imminently’ as RFK Jr. vets new members WASHINGTON — Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could “imminently” overhaul a key federal advisory panel that recommends which preventive services insurers must pay for, according to a person familiar with the plans. The person said that federal health officials are…
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Kennedy, disability advocates paint very different realities as ADA turns 35
Kennedy, disability advocates paint very different realities as ADA turns 35 Stirring speeches filled the tall, fluorescent room on Monday morning as members of the disability community and federal officials celebrated the 35th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. They spoke at length about how the landmark law birthed critical protections…
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STAT+: HHS orders thimerosal out of all flu vaccines
STAT+: HHS orders thimerosal out of all flu vaccines You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Alex Hogan did yeoman’s work of taste testing beef-tallow-fried chicken wings and fries, soda pop…
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HHS Secretary RFK Jr. accepts recommendations to drop thimerosal from U.S. flu vaccines
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. accepts recommendations to drop thimerosal from U.S. flu vaccines Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday formally accepted recommendations that would require all vaccine manufacturers to discontinue using the preservative thimerosal in influenza vaccines. A statement issued by the department on Wednesday called the move the fulfillment…
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STAT+: FDA’s new top drug regulator hails from industry
STAT+: FDA’s new top drug regulator hails from industry You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I scream! You scream! We all scream for ice cream without artificial dyes! Tell us…
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Why MAHA’s push on Coca-Cola and ice cream is ‘nutritionally hilarious’
Why MAHA’s push on Coca-Cola and ice cream is ‘nutritionally hilarious’ Pop quiz: What’s Coca-Cola with cane sugar and ice cream made with natural dyes? Answer: Coca-Cola and ice cream. Getting Coca-Cola to use cane sugar rather than corn syrup and ice cream manufacturers to stop their use of synthetic dyes are the latest achievements…
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STAT+: Kennedy dismisses two top HHS aides
STAT+: Kennedy dismisses two top HHS aides WASHINGTON — Two top aides to Health and Human Services Department Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were dismissed from their roles this week after just months on the job. Both Heather Flick Melanson, chief of staff, and Hannah Anderson, deputy chief of staff for policy, were let go,…
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STAT+: RFK Jr. gives vaccine skeptics plum HHS posts
STAT+: RFK Jr. gives vaccine skeptics plum HHS posts You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mr. Medicare Dr. Oz suggests 10 minutes of yoga straight out of bed, preferably with…
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U.S. drops charges against doctor accused of throwing away Covid shots, selling fake vaccine cards
U.S. drops charges against doctor accused of throwing away Covid shots, selling fake vaccine cards The federal government on Saturday dismissed charges against a Utah plastic surgeon accused of throwing away COVID-19 vaccines, giving children saline shots instead of the vaccine and selling faked vaccination cards. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on the social…
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Trump administration cuts undocumented immigrants’ access to range of federally funded programs
Trump administration cuts undocumented immigrants’ access to range of federally funded programs WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Thursday announced it would further curtail undocumented immigrants’ access to federally funded programs, including health care clinics, early childhood education, and nutritional support. The decision reverses a federal practice that has been in place for decades, and is…
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STAT+: FDA won’t pay 2024 bonuses to workers who are getting laid off
STAT+: FDA won’t pay 2024 bonuses to workers who are getting laid off You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I thought the news would slow down after Republicans passed their…
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STAT+: Kennedy abruptly cancels preventive care committee meeting
STAT+: Kennedy abruptly cancels preventive care committee meeting WASHINGTON — Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has abruptly canceled a meeting of a key expert panel that evaluates the nation’s preventive care recommendations, according to an email viewed by STAT. The email did not cite a reason. The cancellation of the Thursday meeting of the U.S.…
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STAT+: HHS backtracks on pledge to disclose new vaccine advisers’ conflicts of interest
STAT+: HHS backtracks on pledge to disclose new vaccine advisers’ conflicts of interest WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services is sitting on information about new vaccine advisers’ conflicts of interest, and seemingly backtracking on its vow to make key disclosure documents public. Agency officials previously said they would release ethics forms for…
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Leading medical groups sue Kennedy over changed Covid-19 vaccine recommendations
Leading medical groups sue Kennedy over changed Covid-19 vaccine recommendations WASHINGTON — Six major medical groups, and a pregnant physician, are suing health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over changes he made to Covid-19 vaccine recommendations that they say were unlawful and undermine public trust in health care. The suit argues that a May 19 directive…
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STAT+: Memo said to describe biotech industry meeting calls RFK Jr. a ‘direct threat to public health’
STAT+: Memo said to describe biotech industry meeting calls RFK Jr. a ‘direct threat to public health’ A memo that purports to summarize a meeting held by members of a leading biotech trade group suggests deep concern about health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s stance on vaccines, and describes him as a “direct threat to…
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U.S. judge says HHS layoffs were likely unlawful and must be halted
U.S. judge says HHS layoffs were likely unlawful and must be halted PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A federal judge has ruled that recent mass layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services were likely unlawful and ordered the Trump administration to halt plans to downsize and reorganize the nation’s health workforce. U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose…
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CDC advisory panel, selected by RFK Jr., recommends thimerosal be dropped from flu vaccines
CDC advisory panel, selected by RFK Jr., recommends thimerosal be dropped from flu vaccines A federal vaccine advisory panel, which health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently stacked with handpicked members, recommended on Thursday that Americans should not receive flu vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal. The votes — there were three related to the topic…
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STAT+: The CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, empowered by RFK Jr., is just getting started
STAT+: The CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, empowered by RFK Jr., is just getting started The meeting began with an airing of pandemic-era grievances and closed with a move to cement a decades-old, long-dismissed anti-vaccine talking point into U.S. national policy. In the intervening 13 hours came technical issues, forgotten procedures, and a public comments…
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STAT+: RFK Jr.’s vaccine advisers meet, Monarez gets grilled
STAT+: RFK Jr.’s vaccine advisers meet, Monarez gets grilled You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. After making a brief visit to the hospital due to feeling lightheaded, Senate Minority Leader…
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STAT+: Trump’s pick to run the CDC walks a fine line on RFK Jr. at Senate hearing
STAT+: Trump’s pick to run the CDC walks a fine line on RFK Jr. at Senate hearing WASHINGTON — There seemed to be one question on the minds of many senators grilling Susan Monarez, President Trump’s pick to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at a hearing on Wednesday: If confirmed, would she…
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STAT+: Insurance coverage of vaccines at risk in RFK Jr.’s reshuffling of CDC’s vaccine advisers
STAT+: Insurance coverage of vaccines at risk in RFK Jr.’s reshuffling of CDC’s vaccine advisers The decision by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to remove and replace all members of the government’s independent vaccine advisory committee doesn’t just change how the nation will approach vaccine policy. It could also take money…
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STAT+: Health insurers promise to reduce barriers to care under pressure from Trump administration
STAT+: Health insurers promise to reduce barriers to care under pressure from Trump administration WASHINGTON — Last week’s pledge from more than 40 health insurers to cut down on prior authorizations came after some behind-the-scenes convincing from the Trump administration. The administration pushed insurers to sign a voluntary pledge to cut back on prior authorizations…
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STAT+: CDC interim leaders, in first all-hands meeting, speak of ‘myth-busting’ and ‘resilience’
STAT+: CDC interim leaders, in first all-hands meeting, speak of ‘myth-busting’ and ‘resilience’ In their first all-staff meeting since the start of the Trump administration, the interim leadership of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attempted to sidestep controversy and rally troops at the storied but demoralized agency on Tuesday. Staff were told CDC…
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Dismissed members of CDC vaccine committee call Kennedy’s actions ‘destabilizing’
Dismissed members of CDC vaccine committee call Kennedy’s actions ‘destabilizing’ NEW YORK — All 17 experts recently dismissed from a government vaccine advisory panel published an essay Monday decrying “destabilizing decisions” made by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that could lead to more preventable disease spread. Kennedy last week announced he would “retire” the entire panel that…
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CDC workers fired from prominent STI, hepatitis labs are rehired
CDC workers fired from prominent STI, hepatitis labs are rehired The staff of two world-class laboratories at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that were slated to be closed in a round of cuts announced in April have been informed that their terminations have been canceled. The CDC’s sexually transmitted disease laboratory and its…
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STAT+: RFK Jr.’s new vaccine panel raises questions of how Kennedy defines conflicts of interest
STAT+: RFK Jr.’s new vaccine panel raises questions of how Kennedy defines conflicts of interest WASHINGTON — When health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed the 17 members of the key panel that advises the federal government on vaccine recommendations, he claimed that their ties to the pharmaceutical industry had damaged public trust. However, new members…
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STAT+: HHS plans ‘bold, edgy’ campaign on ultra-processed foods and diabetes
STAT+: HHS plans ‘bold, edgy’ campaign on ultra-processed foods and diabetes The links between ultra-processed food and higher risk of diabetes will be the focus of the first wave of health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s national “Take Back Your Health” campaign, according to a notice posted on a government site for contractors. The notice…
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The upheaval of CDC’s vaccine panel, and drug pricing confusion
The upheaval of CDC’s vaccine panel, and drug pricing confusion Why did Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly fire all members of the expert panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines? Who are the new members that Kennedy named? And what does that all mean for the future of public health?…
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Opinion: I study conflicts of interest. Here’s why RFK Jr.’s approach to the vaccine advisory committee could backfire
Opinion: I study conflicts of interest. Here’s why RFK Jr.’s approach to the vaccine advisory committee could backfire If Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants to “clean up the corruption and conflicts” at HHS, he is going about it the wrong way. I study conflicts of interest at federal agencies. While…
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RFK Jr. names new members of CDC’s vaccine advisory panel
RFK Jr. names new members of CDC’s vaccine advisory panel WASHINGTON — Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday unveiled the names of the eight new members who will sit on the panel of experts that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine policy, and said they would review the current…
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HHS reverses hundreds of CDC firings
HHS reverses hundreds of CDC firings WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has reversed the firings of hundreds of staffers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including those who work in divisions that handle cruise ship safety, sexually transmitted infection prevention, and global health. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services,…
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Firing of CDC’s vaccine advisers puts spotlight on RFK Jr.’s promises to Cassidy
Firing of CDC’s vaccine advisers puts spotlight on RFK Jr.’s promises to Cassidy WASHINGTON — On Monday, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gutted the panel of experts that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines. That’s put the spotlight on a key Senate Republican health leader who sharply criticized Kennedy’s views…
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Health secretary RFK Jr. abruptly fires CDC vaccine advisory panel
Health secretary RFK Jr. abruptly fires CDC vaccine advisory panel Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken the extraordinary step of firing the expert panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on immunizations, saying the action is needed to restore faith in vaccines. “A clean sweep is needed to re-establish public…
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Opinion: STAT+: RFK Jr. acknowledges receiving unproven stem cell treatment from an Antigua clinic
Opinion: STAT+: RFK Jr. acknowledges receiving unproven stem cell treatment from an Antigua clinic Welcome to Lab Dish, a First Opinion column on regenerative medicine from Paul Knoepfler. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently revealed on a health influencer podcast that he received unproven stem cells at a clinic in Antigua…
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Opinion: RFK Jr.’s stance on Covid vaccines for pregnant women is profoundly unethical
Opinion: RFK Jr.’s stance on Covid vaccines for pregnant women is profoundly unethical Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy’s proposal to end the government’s existing Covid vaccine recommendation for healthy pregnant women, if enacted, will be a major setback to decades’ worth of efforts to advance the health of pregnant people and their babies.…
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Opinion: MAHA kids’ health report misinforms about tonsillectomies and ear tubes
Opinion: MAHA kids’ health report misinforms about tonsillectomies and ear tubes The Make America Healthy Again commission’s recent report on children’s health has received a lot of attention for its citation errors and focus on ultra-processed foods, smartphones, and stimulant use. But the less-discussed part on “overmedicalization” of American children stood out to us. While…
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FDA commissioner evades questions on Covid shot, calls CDC panel a ‘kangaroo court’
FDA commissioner evades questions on Covid shot, calls CDC panel a ‘kangaroo court’ In an interview meant to clarify the federal government’s position on Covid-19 vaccines, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary had few answers. Instead, he urged Americans to consult with their doctors. In a Sunday appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,”…
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FDA approves a next-generation Covid vaccine from Moderna, with restrictions
FDA approves a next-generation Covid vaccine from Moderna, with restrictions The Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna’s new Covid-19 vaccine late Friday, though it placed restrictions on its use that the company’s existing Covid shot, Spikevax, does not currently face. The new vaccine, which will be marketed under the name mNexspike, will not immediately replace…
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25 million cavities and $9.8 billion: Study estimates the costs of removing fluoride from water
25 million cavities and $9.8 billion: Study estimates the costs of removing fluoride from water Even before Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took office as health secretary, he promised to take action on water fluoridation. He would provide “good information” to municipalities, which regulate the water supply, and “fluoride will disappear,” he said in November. In…
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STAT+: RFK Jr.’s latest moves on vaccines
STAT+: RFK Jr.’s latest moves on vaccines You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. NIH is terminating research grants left and right, impeding early career paths and leading some young scientists…
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White House acknowledges problems in RFK Jr.’s MAHA report
White House acknowledges problems in RFK Jr.’s MAHA report WASHINGTON — The White House will fix errors in a much-anticipated federal government report spearheaded by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which decried America’s food supply, pesticides and prescription drugs. Kennedy’s wide-ranging “Make America Healthy Again” report, released last week, cited hundreds of…
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STAT+: HHS cancels nearly $600 million Moderna contract on vaccines for flu pandemics
STAT+: HHS cancels nearly $600 million Moderna contract on vaccines for flu pandemics This story will be updated The Department of Health and Human Services has notified Moderna that it is canceling a nearly $600 million contract with the company to develop, test, and license vaccines for flu strains that could trigger future pandemics, including…
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RFK Jr. rolls back Covid vaccine recommendations for healthy children, pregnant people
RFK Jr. rolls back Covid vaccine recommendations for healthy children, pregnant people Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday that he has unilaterally struck the recommendation that healthy children and healthy pregnant people get Covid-19 booster shots — a move that experts say is unprecedented. Kennedy made the announcement on the social media site X,…
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Opinion: I’m a dentist from India. The fluoride debate in the U.S. horrifies me
Opinion: I’m a dentist from India. The fluoride debate in the U.S. horrifies me Florida has just banned fluoride in public water, becoming the second state to do so. It’s part of decadeslong battle that has heated up in recent years. Local governments debate whether it belongs in the water supply. Parents question safety. Pseudoscience…
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LGBTQ+ researchers sue HHS, NIH over grant cuts
LGBTQ+ researchers sue HHS, NIH over grant cuts A group of physicians and researchers working on LGBTQ+ health sued the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services Tuesday over the sweeping grant terminations that have impacted medical research on queer people as part of the implementation of President Trump’s executive…
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STAT+: RFK Jr. meets with health tech startups, most backed by Andreessen Horowitz
STAT+: RFK Jr. meets with health tech startups, most backed by Andreessen Horowitz Of the seven health tech companies that met with the government’s most powerful health official on Monday, all but one had something in common: Financial backing from one of Silicon Valley’s top venture capital firms. In a post on the social media…
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Blunt Rochester presses RFK Jr. on CDC acting director
Blunt Rochester presses RFK Jr. on CDC acting director Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester has written a stinging letter to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding that he clarify whether the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an acting director. In her three-page missive, Blunt Rochester suggested that Matthew Buzzelli, the person Kennedy said…
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Does the CDC have an acting director?
Does the CDC have an acting director? Earlier this week, Lisa Blunt Rochester asked a seemingly simple question of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during his testimony to the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee: “Who is the acting CDC director?” Kennedy, the secretary of Health and Human Services, offered the name “Matt Buzzelli,” who…
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HHS to stop recommending routine Covid shots for children, pregnant people, RFK Jr. ally says
HHS to stop recommending routine Covid shots for children, pregnant people, RFK Jr. ally says Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to announce that the Department of Health and Human Services will stop recommending Covid vaccines for children and pregnant people, a close Kennedy ally said Thursday. The news arrived between panels at…
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STAT+: MAHA has a new think tank. The Trump administration is listening
STAT+: MAHA has a new think tank. The Trump administration is listening The Make America Healthy Again movement is coalescing around a new effort to turn its goals into federal policy. The Trump administration is listening. The MAHA Institute, a policy center launched Thursday, is pushing to change the American health and food systems: from…
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‘What wouldn’t I be worried about?’: Research leaders discuss threats to U.S. science
‘What wouldn’t I be worried about?’: Research leaders discuss threats to U.S. science Attacks on efforts to diversify the sciences. Research grant terminations. Fear among scientists to speak out against the government. Cuts to international aid. These were some of a long list of concerns shared by three research leaders as they discussed the state…
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Trump’s drug-pricing plan and a potential Theranos 2.0
Trump’s drug-pricing plan and a potential Theranos 2.0 How likely is it for President Trump’s new drug-pricing plan to be implemented? Why have investors seemed unbothered by the proposal? And will we see a return of Elizabeth Holmes’ blood-testing ambitions? We discuss all that and more on this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s…
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STAT+: In combative hearings, Kennedy defends HHS cuts, backtracks — and lashes out
STAT+: In combative hearings, Kennedy defends HHS cuts, backtracks — and lashes out WASHINGTON — In hours of combative congressional hearings Wednesday, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. swung between defending sweeping changes at his agency and backtracking on aspects of a reorganization he nevertheless said would be “painful.” He repeatedly cast doubts on reports about…
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Former FDA head Robert Califf says RFK Jr.’s vaccine rhetoric is ‘doing harm’ to Americans
Former FDA head Robert Califf says RFK Jr.’s vaccine rhetoric is ‘doing harm’ to Americans SAN FRANCISCO — Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf said health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s hesitance to endorse vaccines is harming the American public. “Fundamental vaccination saves millions of lives every year already, and he’s busy eroding public…
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STAT+: Trump nominates Casey Means, entrepreneurial doctor and MAHA leader, for surgeon general
STAT+: Trump nominates Casey Means, entrepreneurial doctor and MAHA leader, for surgeon general The health entrepreneur and “Make America Healthy Again” leader Casey Means has been nominated to be the U.S. surgeon general after President Trump pulled his prior nominee suddenly on Wednesday. Means, an M.D. and author who runs a holistic wellness blog and…
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STAT+: Vinay Prasad tapped to run FDA center that regulates vaccines, gene therapies
STAT+: Vinay Prasad tapped to run FDA center that regulates vaccines, gene therapies WASHINGTON — Vinay Prasad, an academic and fierce critic of the medical mainstream, will be the next director of the Food and Drug Administration center that oversees the regulation of vaccines, gene therapies, and the blood supply. Prasad, previously an epidemiology professor at…
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STAT+: Vinay Prasad, in his own words, outlines the philosophy he’ll bring to the FDA
STAT+: Vinay Prasad, in his own words, outlines the philosophy he’ll bring to the FDA People seeking roles in government are often careful about what they say in public, or at least somewhat hesitant to freely share their opinions. It’s difficult to know exactly what’s going on in their heads. Not Vinay Prasad. The new…
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20 attorneys general ask federal judge to reverse deep cuts to HHS
20 attorneys general ask federal judge to reverse deep cuts to HHS Attorneys general in 19 states and Washington, D.C., are challenging cuts to the U.S. Health and Human Services agency, saying the Trump administration’s massive restructuring has destroyed life-saving programs and left states to pick up the bill for mounting health crises. The lawsuit was filed in federal…
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STAT+: Trump proposes billions in cuts to federal health agencies from NIH to CDC
STAT+: Trump proposes billions in cuts to federal health agencies from NIH to CDC WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday proposed massive cuts to the federal government’s health agencies in his 2026 budget request, arguing that Congress should reduce spending by tens of billions from current levels. The request would be a 26% cut to…
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STAT+: Collins and fellow GOP senators speak out in opposition to Trump’s cuts to biomedical research
STAT+: Collins and fellow GOP senators speak out in opposition to Trump’s cuts to biomedical research WASHINGTON — There was broad bipartisan support at a Senate hearing Wednesday to reverse course on the Trump administration’s cuts to federally funded biomedical research. Sen. Susan Collins (Maine), the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, kicked off…
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STAT+: Despite Kennedy’s stated support, funding for Women’s Health Initiative remains in limbo
STAT+: Despite Kennedy’s stated support, funding for Women’s Health Initiative remains in limbo The word came down at 9 a.m. Pacific on April 14 that they were done. Marcia Stefanick of Stanford and three other leaders of regional centers that for decades have researched women’s health heard from their study’s national leaders that their funding…
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RFK Jr. faces mixed reception, unruly crowd at major addiction conference
RFK Jr. faces mixed reception, unruly crowd at major addiction conference NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appearance at a major addiction and drug policy conference was marked by repeated interruptions on Thursday, as protesters and jeers forced him to pause and wait for noise to subside at least five times during his 36-minute…
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Day by day, how Trump is roiling science and health
Day by day, how Trump is roiling science and health It’s hard to remember all the earthshaking decisions and events that have transpired with unprecedented speed in the first few months of the Trump administration. We’re tracking, day by day, what’s happened in the worlds of science and health. Key Legal action Covid DEI and…
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STAT+: Former Trump official warns president he’s at risk of ruining his legacy on ending HIV
STAT+: Former Trump official warns president he’s at risk of ruining his legacy on ending HIV WASHINGTON — The health official who helped convince President Trump during his first term that it’s possible to end the HIV epidemic in the United States is now imploring the president to stay the course, as funding cuts threaten…
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Food companies agree to phase out synthetic dyes, handing MAHA a victory
Food companies agree to phase out synthetic dyes, handing MAHA a victory Food manufacturers will phase out eight synthetic dyes from all U.S. products by the end of 2026, the federal government announced today in a move that reflects the growing reach of the Make America Healthy Again movement. Decrying the “toxic soup of synthetic…
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STAT+: Research grants as political ammo; Death to dyes?
STAT+: Research grants as political ammo; Death to dyes? You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. STAT won its first National Magazine Award for General Excellence. Not bad, huh? Help us…
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STAT+: RFK Jr. is back to criticizing vaccines, and Trump’s new drug-cost plan
STAT+: RFK Jr. is back to criticizing vaccines, and Trump’s new drug-cost plan You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I cast my leafy-green seeds already, and my mint, chives and…
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‘The same Bobby Kennedy’: How RFK Jr.’s vaccine criticism came rushing back
‘The same Bobby Kennedy’: How RFK Jr.’s vaccine criticism came rushing back WASHINGTON — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. downplayed his past criticism of vaccines as he sought to become the nation’s health secretary. Now, just two months after winning confirmation, he’s frequently returning to rhetoric from his time as perhaps the most prominent vaccine critic…
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STAT+: Leaked budget document outlines how Kennedy may cut up HHS to build new AHA
STAT+: Leaked budget document outlines how Kennedy may cut up HHS to build new AHA An internal budget document leaked to the press on Wednesday gives the clearest vision yet of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s planned chronic disease-fighting agency, the Administration for a Healthy America. The Office of Management and Budget document, which STAT obtained,…
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RFK Jr. plans changes to vaccine injury reporting system
RFK Jr. plans changes to vaccine injury reporting system WASHINGTON — Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday that he plans to roll out changes to the vaccine injury monitoring system that would automate and increase data collection as well as look for negative impacts of the shots. Reforming the current Vaccine Adverse Event…
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RFK Jr calls rising autism rates an ‘epidemic.’ Autistic people call it a condition to live with
RFK Jr calls rising autism rates an ‘epidemic.’ Autistic people call it a condition to live with A new federal report suggests that U.S. autism rates are rising modestly, an increase that health researchers said reflected expanded diagnostic tools and access to care, among other factors. But health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. instead has…
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RFK Jr. says HHS will determine the cause of autism by September
RFK Jr. says HHS will determine the cause of autism by September WASHINGTON — The nation’s top health agency will undertake a “massive testing and research effort” to determine the cause of autism, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Thursday. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine critic who has pushed a discredited theory that routine…
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Health secretary RFK Jr. declares certain vaccines have ‘never worked,’ flummoxing scientists
Health secretary RFK Jr. declares certain vaccines have ‘never worked,’ flummoxing scientists Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed another unorthodox view on vaccines, with the long-time vaccine critic declaring that vaccines for respiratory bugs that target a sole part of the pathogen they are meant to protect against do not work. The claim…
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BIO’s John Crowley on RFK Jr. and tariffs, plus calls for more federal biotech funding
BIO’s John Crowley on RFK Jr. and tariffs, plus calls for more federal biotech funding Is there more funding coming for the biotech industry? Will the pharmaceutical industry be hit with tariffs? And is it possible to reason with RFK Jr.? We talk about all that and more on this week’s episode of “The Readout…
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On an RFK Jr. road show, MAHA goals take precedence. Measles prevention less so
On an RFK Jr. road show, MAHA goals take precedence. Measles prevention less so GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY, Ariz. — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaking Tuesday morning at a conference on Native American tribal self-governance, was working hard to win his audience’s affection. But amid a measles outbreak linked to the deaths of two children…
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National public health group calls for RFK Jr. to resign, citing ‘complete disregard for science’
National public health group calls for RFK Jr. to resign, citing ‘complete disregard for science’ A national public health organization is calling for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to resign the federal post he assumed just weeks ago, citing “implicit and explicit bias and complete disregard for science.” Georges Benjamin, executive director of the…
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STAT+: RFK Jr.’s Senate hearing delayed, living with more measles
STAT+: RFK Jr.’s Senate hearing delayed, living with more measles You’re reading the web edition of D.C. Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about the politics and policy of health and medicine. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. STAT is cutting the price of an annual subscription in half. Click here for…
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RFK Jr. says he plans to tell CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water
RFK Jr. says he plans to tell CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water SALT LAKE CITY — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday said he plans to tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention soon to stop recommending fluoridation in communities nationwide. Kennedy also said he’s assembling a task…
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RFK Jr.’s Senate hearing on health department cuts to be delayed for weeks
RFK Jr.’s Senate hearing on health department cuts to be delayed for weeks Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will likely delay his appearance before the Senate’s health committee by several weeks, even as he makes historic changes to the Department of Health and Human Services and contends with a surging measles outbreak. Senate health committee Chair…
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‘Most effective way’ to prevent measles is vaccination, RFK Jr. says, in most direct remarks yet
‘Most effective way’ to prevent measles is vaccination, RFK Jr. says, in most direct remarks yet WASHINGTON — Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Sunday that “the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine,” his most direct statement yet on the issue, following the death of a second child…
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Second child with measles dies in Texas, prompting RFK Jr. visit
Second child with measles dies in Texas, prompting RFK Jr. visit A second unvaccinated school-aged child in West Texas died from a measles -related illness, a hospital spokesman confirmed Sunday, prompting Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to travel to the area for the child’s funeral. Kennedy, an anti-vaccine advocate before ascending to the role of nation’s top…
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CDC division responsible for asthma control and lead poisoning prevention effectively eliminated
CDC division responsible for asthma control and lead poisoning prevention effectively eliminated After Hurricane Ian, as Floridians returned home to sodden furniture and moldy piles of debris, many with asthma could feel their chests tightening. To figure out what was safe, some sent their concerns directly to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. …
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Cuts, ousters and drama at the FDA
Cuts, ousters and drama at the FDA Turmoil, job cuts and forced ousters of high-ranking officials at federal health agencies. Marty Makary’s rough first week as FDA Commissioner. Biotech stocks tumble even further. President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs roil global markets. We talk about biotech’s volatile week, plus interview AstraZeneca R&D executive Sharon Barr, on…
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Senate confirms Oz as head of agency that runs Medicare, Medicaid
Senate confirms Oz as head of agency that runs Medicare, Medicaid WASHINGTON — In a party-line vote of 53-45, the Senate on Thursday confirmed Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Oz’s confirmation was expected; he is not as controversial as Health and Human Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or some…
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STAT+: Trump administration begins mass cuts of federal health policy researchers
STAT+: Trump administration begins mass cuts of federal health policy researchers The Trump administration has gutted two small federal agencies filled with researchers who study how the health care system functions and how to improve it. More than half of employees at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and the Agency…
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STAT+: Makary’s first speech to FDA staff focuses on challenging norms, fighting chronic disease
STAT+: Makary’s first speech to FDA staff focuses on challenging norms, fighting chronic disease WASHINGTON — Marty Makary’s first address to staff as FDA commissioner on Wednesday afternoon sounded a bit like an introduction to one of his books. It included sweeping declarations about the need to challenge scientific norms, and to identify the root…
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Opinion: Decimation of HHS comms, FOIA offices will leave Americans in the dark about urgent health matters
Opinion: Decimation of HHS comms, FOIA offices will leave Americans in the dark about urgent health matters The DOGE cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday will make America less safe. Unless something is done soon to change course, they will also make it easier to hide corrupt behavior by…
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50 canceled vaccination clinics, and other local impact from HHS cuts
50 canceled vaccination clinics, and other local impact from HHS cuts Just last week, the leader of public health in Dallas had to cancel 50 vaccination clinics, including events specifically targeting schools with low immunization rates, all while the West Texas measles outbreak continues to flare. Then on Tuesday came the layoffs of thousands of…
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After RFK Jr.’s ‘radical transparency’ pledge, HHS shutters much of its communications, FOIA operations
After RFK Jr.’s ‘radical transparency’ pledge, HHS shutters much of its communications, FOIA operations The Department of Health and Human Services made major cuts to teams across its agencies that handle communications, media relations, and Freedom of Information Act requests as part of mass layoffs Tuesday, a move that workers say will cripple the department’s…
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STAT+: FDA Commissioner Marty Makary gets off to a bruising start as agency is wracked by layoffs
STAT+: FDA Commissioner Marty Makary gets off to a bruising start as agency is wracked by layoffs WASHINGTON — Marty Makary’s first official day as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration began with employees in tears, learning from security guards that they were losing their jobs. The news release announcing the start of his…