RFK Jr. Fires Two Leaders Of Major U.S. Health Task Force

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. terminated Dr. John Wong, a Tufts University professor, and Dr. Esa Davis, a University of Maryland professor, from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on May 11, 2026. The letters, obtained by *The New York Times*, stated the removals were immediate to prevent uncertainty in future task force decisions, though Kennedy’s office claimed the review was unrelated to their performance. The USPSTF determines which preventive services—such as cancer screenings, depression evaluations, and immunizations—insurers must cover under the Affordable Care Act. Wong and Davis were invited to reapply for other roles on the task force, according to *The Times*. During a May 12 meeting, officials told them their appointments under the Biden administration were ‘premature,’ raising concerns about political interference. Public health experts fear the dismissals signal broader politicization of the task force, which relies on scientific evidence to guide coverage. Former chair Dr. Michael Silverstein told *The Times* the administration had previously blocked recommendations, including one endorsing self-testing for cervical cancer. He compared the situation to Kennedy’s overhaul of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which faces legal challenges over vaccine guidelines. Dr. Aaron Carroll, president of AcademyHealth, warned the changes could lead to less rigorous guidelines or politically motivated coverage decisions. The USPSTF’s work affects millions of Americans by determining which preventive services are fully covered without copays. Wong and Davis’s removals follow a pattern of administrative interference in health policy recommendations, according to critics. The task force is currently accepting nominations for new members, though the dismissals have sparked debates over transparency and scientific independence in public health decisions.