Kennedy Fires Leaders of Key Health Task Force

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (H.H.S.) fired Dr. John B. Wong and Dr. Esa M. Davis, the two leaders of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (U.S.P.S.T.F.), effective immediately on May 11. In letters obtained by *The New York Times*, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated the terminations were part of a review to 'protect the integrity' of the task force, though he did not link the move to performance issues. Both doctors said they had been told they could reapply for non-leadership roles, but Dr. Wong expressed concern that new appointees might lack the task force’s usual expertise in primary care. The U.S.P.S.T.F. plays a critical role in determining which preventive services—such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and depression screenings—must be fully covered by insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Last year, the task force issued fewer recommendations than usual and missed a legally required report to Congress after Kennedy postponed its meetings indefinitely. Dr. Wong and former chairman Dr. Michael Silverstein also alleged interference in the release of a recommendation endorsing self-testing for cervical cancer, which was later issued by another H.H.S. agency. The firings come after Kennedy’s administration failed to replace members whose terms expired in December, leaving the task force understaffed. Dr. Davis and Dr. Wong had been key figures in evaluating new members, but their removal allows H.H.S. to appoint replacements without their input. Applications for new roles are being accepted until this Saturday, though the process now excludes their leadership oversight. Public health experts have criticized Kennedy for undermining the task force’s independence, citing delays and political influence over medical guidelines. The Affordable Care Act mandates coverage for services rated 'A' or 'B' by the panel, meaning its decisions affect millions of Americans’ access to care. A spokesman for H.H.S. referred to the letters but did not address the cervical cancer recommendation delay. Dr. Wong warned that the task force’s future work could be compromised without experts in primary care, while Kennedy’s letters framed the changes as routine administrative adjustments. The move has intensified scrutiny of the Trump administration’s handling of health policy, particularly as the task force’s influence over insurance coverage remains unparalleled.