RFK Jr. Fires 2 Task Force Leaders, Eyes August Overhaul of Preventive Care
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 5
RFK Jr. Fires 2 Task Force Leaders, Eyes August Overhaul of Preventive Care
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 5
Summary
A late-August meeting is planned for a reconstituted U.S. Preventive Services Task Force after HHS fired its leaders in May and canceled most meetings, stalling recommendations that drive no-copay insurance coverage.
Kennedy says the panel has been too slow and conservative—especially on Alzheimer’s screening—and wants broader preventive care, a shift that could force insurers to cover more tests and raise premium costs.
Test makers and patient groups are already lobbying for expanded coverage, including kidney disease and colorectal cancer screening; supporters say earlier detection saves lives, while critics warn industry could reap a windfall.
Doctors and insurers say the bigger risk is a break from the task force’s evidence-based process, especially after Kennedy’s vaccine advisory overhaul was partly blocked in court and amid cuts that shrank AHRQ from nearly 300 staff to 87.
As scientific panels face overhauls, who can Americans trust for guidance on their health and safety?
Will reshaping a key health panel lead to better preventive care or just higher insurance premiums?
USPSTF in Crisis: RFK Jr.’s Firings and Delays Jeopardize Preventive Coverage for Millions
Overview
In May 2026, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired Dr. John Wong and Dr. Esa Davis from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), even though both had significant time left in their terms. This decision followed a year in which Secretary Kennedy had not replaced outgoing members and had postponed Task Force meetings, disrupting its normal operations. Dr. Wong and Dr. Davis questioned whether a recent Supreme Court decision allowed Kennedy to retroactively remove them, but Kennedy claimed the firings were needed to protect the Task Force’s integrity and avoid uncertainty. These actions have raised concerns about the future direction and independence of the USPSTF.