“RFK Jr. Fires Fauci’s Wife Amid Sweeping HHS Shake-Up”

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has initiated a sweeping reorganization of senior leadership across key public health agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to multiple individuals familiar with the matter.

The restructuring includes the dismissal of Christine Grady, head of the NIH Clinical Center’s bioethics department and the wife of former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci. Several longtime NIH officials — including Clifford Lane, Emily Erbelding, and Jeanne Marrazzo, who succeeded Fauci as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) — were either terminated or reassigned, in some cases to remote federal positions in states such as Alaska. Peter Stein, director of the FDA’s Office of New Drugs, was also removed, days after top vaccine official Dr. Peter Marks and his deputy Julie Tierney were placed on administrative leave.

While the personnel changes are part of a broader reduction in force across the department, they appear to target individuals directly involved in the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the development and distribution of vaccines.

Kennedy, a longtime critic of federal public health policy, has argued that the current public health system is overly focused on treatment rather than prevention. In a statement posted to X, he called the restructuring a “difficult moment” but maintained that “HHS needs to be recalibrated to emphasize prevention, not just sick care.”

The decisions have drawn criticism from many within the scientific and public health communities. Some have raised concerns that the overhaul could undermine institutional expertise and preparedness for future public health emergencies.

“It’s difficult to understand how reassigning seasoned leaders in the middle of ongoing public health challenges improves the nation’s readiness,” said Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. “This is the darkest day I’ve had in 50 years of public health.”

Others see the shake-up as reflective of Kennedy’s long-standing concerns about the government’s management of infectious diseases and vaccine safety. During his presidential campaign and throughout his career as an environmental attorney and activist, Kennedy has been a vocal critic of vaccine mandates and has frequently questioned pharmaceutical influence on public health policy. He has also signaled his intent to investigate potential links between vaccines and chronic conditions, such as autism — a position widely disputed by mainstream scientific consensus.

The new leadership at both HHS and NIH includes figures who, like Kennedy, were critical of COVID-era policies. Dr. Marty Makary, now FDA Commissioner, and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, recently appointed NIH Director, have both previously criticized pandemic-related lockdowns and vaccine mandates. Bhattacharya has also publicly challenged Dr. Fauci’s leadership during the pandemic, referring to it as a “propaganda campaign” in past statements.

In a message to NIH employees on Tuesday, Bhattacharya stated his intent to “foster an environment where varied perspectives are valued and encouraged,” suggesting a shift toward a more pluralistic approach to public health policy.

However, some public health experts remain skeptical.

Peter Staley, a veteran HIV/AIDS activist, expressed concern that the leadership changes could affect federal efforts to address sexually transmitted diseases — an area where many of the departing officials had extensive experience.

“It appears targeted not just at vaccines but also at longstanding HIV programs,” Staley said. “These moves could signal a departure from decades of progress.”

As the shake-up continues, Kennedy’s administration faces both internal and external scrutiny regarding the future direction of HHS and its approach to pandemic preparedness, biomedical ethics, and public trust in science.

The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to requests for comment. Dr. Anthony Fauci also declined to comment.

Rewritten from an article posted here.