RFK Jr. Says HHS to Remove Conflicts of Interests on Committees

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in his first remarks to agency staff as health secretary said he’ll work to remove “conflicts of interest” on HHS advisory committees in order to reestablish the public’s trust.

Kennedy, in comments Tuesday at his welcome ceremony at the Department of Health and Human Services, discussed his efforts to foster “radical transparency” and balance views with other stakeholders, according to two people who attended the ceremony online.

President Donald Trump selected Kennedy, widely known for his criticisms of vaccines, to lead the agency that’s responsible for preparing for or taking action on public health and medical emergencies. Kennedy was confirmed on Feb. 13 by the Senate 52-48 after two tense confirmation hearings discussing his views on science, abortion policy, and transgender health.

By “conflicts of interest,” Kennedy appears to be resurfacing his past complaints that some scientists and public health experts who work on panels that advise the agency about drug and vaccines have also accepted consulting fees and research funding from pharmaceutical companies. Under the current system, these people are required to follow ethics guidelines, but Kennedy has said these guidelines are not stringent enough.

If Kennedy were to change ethics guidelines or add additional members to advisory committees, it raises the possibility that he could dilute the influence of the scientific experts who currently advise the agencies.

His remarks Tuesday on eliminating “conflicts of interest” on committees and research partners could step on a promise he made that helped push him across the finish line for his confirmation.

The possibility that Kennedy would change the membership of advisory committees caused concern during his Senate confirmation process. In exchange for his support, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said he extracted a promise from Kennedy to maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s advisory committee on vaccines.

“If confirmed, he will maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without changes,” Cassidy said on the Senate floor.

The vaccine advisory committee in particular issues recommendations that are tied to state vaccine requirements and insurance coverage for vaccines. There are also a multitude of advisory committees at HHS that advise officials on issues including drug approvals and public health.

‘Radical Transparency’

Kennedy also said on Tuesday that the health department will work together “to launch a new era of radical transparency” and “culture of competency.”

He said that individuals who share those ideas “can flourish and thrive,” but those who are unwilling to embrace them “can retire.”

Thousand of federal employees across health agencies were fired from their jobs last week in response to Trump’s order seeking to shrink the federal workforce.

The layoffs, which targeted employees under a probationary period, began at the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other employees across HHS, including at the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicare, received termination notices over the weekend.