RFK Jr changes terms for US vaccine committee as email leak reveals political interference in vaccine policy
On June 9, 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and replaced them with 13 new advisers. Kennedy said the overhaul aimed to address alleged conflicts of interest among previous members, though internal emails leaked to the press revealed political interference in vaccine policy decisions.
Following the June 9 shakeup, Kennedy installed 13 new advisers to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), replacing the previous 17 members. Many of the new appointees were described as holding anti-vaccine views, fundamentally altering the committee’s composition, according to reporting by *The New York Times* and court documents. A federal judge ruled on March 16, 2026, that Kennedy’s appointments likely violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and invalidated the membership of the reconstituted ACIP.
The court’s order suspended all votes and decisions made by the committee over the prior year, including significant changes to the U.S. vaccination schedule, and blocked the committee from convening for a planned meeting, officials confirmed.
The court found that several policy changes implemented under Kennedy’s appointees were “arbitrary and capricious,” a legal standard indicating a lack of proper justification or adherence to required procedures. Among the invalidated decisions were the prohibition of thimerosal in flu vaccines, the discontinuation of the combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and chickenpox vaccine recommendation, and the removal of the universal dose recommendation for the hepatitis vaccine. These changes, which affected about one-third of routine immunization guidelines, were made without following established advisory processes, the ruling stated.
Internal emails released by Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and reported by national media revealed political interference in vaccine policy following Kennedy’s confirmation as HHS Secretary. The communications showed that Kennedy and his top aides began altering vaccine recommendations and releasing materials to the public without review or input from CDC experts. One email from CDC official Nicole Coffin stated that Andrew Nixon of HHS requested that all campaign ad buys related to flu or vaccination encouragement be pulled from circulation, illustrating direct political pressure to halt pro-vaccine messaging.
Additional emails documented that Kennedy’s aides dispatched a disgraced researcher to search for evidence of a disproven autism-vaccine link without proper clearance or limits on access to sensitive data, bypassing routine scientific oversight. CDC staff reportedly “chafed at pressure” from Kennedy’s team as they navigated contentious vaccine decisions during President Trump’s second term, including policies related to seasonal flu vaccination and COVID-19, according to internal communications obtained by the Senate HELP Committee.
Beyond ACIP, Kennedy also removed at least half of the eight members serving on the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV), which advises on the federal vaccine injury compensation program. Among those dismissed were pediatricians Wendy Lane Burgert and Joshua Williams, as well as Veronica McN, a director of advocacy at a state university. Reporting indicated these removals mirrored Kennedy’s restructuring of ACIP, with midterm dismissals followed by plans to install new members aligned with Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism, suggesting a coordinated strategy to reshape both vaccine recommendation and compensation frameworks.
Kennedy justified his overhaul in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, asserting that federal vaccine advisers were “beholden to industry” and that the committee’s previous members had conflicts of interest. However, an investigation by *Science* found that ACIP members were subject to strict conflict-of-interest rules, including divestment from vaccine manufacturer stock and bans on advisory and consulting roles. The committee historically consisted of 15 voting members plus non-voting representatives who filed annual financial disclosures designed to minimize industry influence.
The changes prompted strong reactions from public health and industry groups. A biotech trade group memo described Kennedy as a “direct threat to public health,” reflecting industry concerns over his anti-vaccine stance and committee restructuring. Public health advocates, including Protect Our Care, characterized the leaked emails and committee changes as evidence of a “deadly anti-vax agenda” imposed over the objections of CDC leaders and career scientists.
The federal court’s ruling has delayed ACIP’s upcoming meeting, which had been scheduled to address alleged long-term effects following COVID-19 vaccination. An HHS representative confirmed the meeting’s postponement due to the invalidation of the committee’s membership. The ruling and email disclosures have fueled ongoing congressional, judicial, and public scrutiny of political influence in vaccine policymaking.
Kennedy’s overhaul of vaccine advisory bodies and the ensuing legal and political fallout mark a significant shift in U.S. vaccine policy governance. The court’s intervention underscores the importance of compliance with federal advisory regulations and established scientific review processes. Meanwhile, the Senate HELP Committee continues to review internal CDC communications as part of broader oversight into vaccine policy decisions during Kennedy’s tenure.
