At a Glance
- Kennedy cuts 20,000 HHS jobs and billions from research
- CDC no longer recommends COVID shots for healthy kids and pregnant women
- MAHA pushes anti-fluoride, anti-seed oil, and vaccine-skeptic policies
- Why it matters: The changes reshape U.S. public health and spark debate over science and policy
In the whirlwind first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has overhauled the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The reshaping has included massive staff reductions, deep cuts to scientific funding, and a sweeping shift in vaccine policy that has drawn sharp criticism.
Mass Layoffs and Research Cuts
Kennedy announced a restructuring that would shut down entire agencies and consolidate others into a new chronic-disease focus. The plan added about 10,000 layoffs to the 10,000 voluntary departures already in place, thinning the $1.7 trillion department.
- 10,000 employees laid off
- 10,000 voluntary buyouts
- NIH slashed billions in research projects
Lawrence Gostin stated:
> “At least in the immediate or intermediate future, the United States is going to be hobbled and hollowed out in its scientific leadership,” adding that reversing the damage would be “extraordinarily difficult.”
Vaccine Policy Overhaul
In May, Kennedy ordered the CDC to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women. The following month, he fired the 17-member CDC vaccine advisory committee and replaced many members with skeptics.
- No COVID shots for healthy kids or pregnant women
- New restrictions on the MMR-varicella combo shot
- Reversal of the birth-dose hepatitis B recommendation
Kennedy said during a Senate Finance Committee hearing:
> “I don’t know how many people died during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Senator Tammy Baldwin criticized the cuts to cancer center grants, noting that $47 million had been held up.
MAHA and Public Reaction
Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda has pushed for the removal of artificial food dyes, anti-fluoride measures, and a ban on junk food in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The initiative has gained support from some Republicans and Democrats, yet it has also attracted backlash for promoting unscientific claims.
- MAHA branding used across federal agencies
- Calls to distrust vaccines and promote raw milk
- Reports containing non-existent citations
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon countered the criticism:
> “In 2025, the Department confronted long-standing public health challenges with transparency, courage, and gold-standard science,” adding that HHS would “strengthen accountability and protect public health.”
| Date | Action | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| May | CDC drops COVID vaccine recommendation for kids | Public health policy shift |
| June | CDC advisory committee replaced | Vaccine guidance changes |
| Nov | CDC abandons vaccine-autism stance | Scientific messaging altered |
Key Takeaways
- Kennedy’s overhaul cut 20,000 HHS jobs and billions from research funding.
- Vaccine policy changes have removed COVID recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women.
- The MAHA agenda has sparked both support and criticism for its science-free stance.
These moves mark a dramatic pivot in U.S. public health policy, raising questions about the balance between political ideology and evidence-based medicine.
