Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has eliminated 75 advisory boards at the Department of Health and Human Services since taking charge. The panels included experts who advised the government on vaccines, disease outbreaks, and medical research.
These advisory committees were made up of doctors, scientists, and researchers who helped guide health policy decisions. Kennedy’s team shut down more than a quarter of all expert panels in just two weeks.
Scientific Advice Gets the Axe
The disbanded panels covered everything from cancer research to food safety. Some had been operating for decades, providing independent scientific advice to health officials. Kennedy, who has long questioned vaccine safety and mainstream medical practices, appears to be reshaping how the health department gets its expert input.
Many of the eliminated committees focused on areas Kennedy has criticized in the past. The move removes hundreds of outside experts from the government’s decision-making process. Some panels that weren’t completely shut down have had their membership changed or their responsibilities altered.
Health policy experts worry this could leave the department making decisions without enough scientific input. The advisory boards were designed to bring in outside expertise the government doesn’t have in-house.
What Happens Next
Kennedy will likely continue restructuring the health department to match his vision. New advisory panels may be created with different experts and priorities. The bigger question is whether removing so much scientific advice will affect the quality of health decisions that impact millions of Americans.
