U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Fires Leaders of Preventive Services Task Force

On May 11, 2026, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. terminated the appointments of Dr. John Wong, chair, and Dr. Esa Davis, vice-chair, of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The termination letters, obtained by multiple outlets, described the action as “administrative in nature,” intended to “protect the integrity of the Task Force’s work” and “avoid uncertainty that could jeopardize the validity of future Task Force actions.” Both officials were invited to reapply for future membership.

CNN

The USPSTF, created in the 1980s, reviews scientific evidence to assign A- or B-grade recommendations that insurers must cover without cost under the Affordable Care Act. Over the past year the panel has not met since March, and its last three scheduled meetings were postponed indefinitely. Kennedy has called the task force “lackadaisical and negligent for 20 years,” citing its failure to recommend early Alzheimer’s-disease screening as a key example of perceived neglect.

New York Times

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – Secretary of Health and Human Services, leading the review of USPSTF appointments.

The Hill

• Dr. John Wong – Chair of the USPSTF, professor of primary care at Tufts Medical Center; term originally set to expire March 2027.

Washington Examiner

• Dr. Esa Davis – Vice-chair, professor of primary care at the University of Maryland School of Medicine; term originally set to expire March 2028.

Washington Examiner

• Roger Klein – Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), overseeing the department’s supervisory framework for the USPSTF.

Politico

• Aaron Carroll – President of AcademyHealth, a nonprofit health-policy organization.

CNN

The USPSTF consists of 16 volunteer experts serving four-year terms. As of May 2026, half of the seats were vacant, and after the firings only eight members remained. Five members’ terms expired at the start of the year, and the deadline for new nominations is May 23, 2026. The 2025 Supreme Court decision *Kennedy v. Braidwood* affirmed the secretary’s authority to appoint and remove task-force members.

The Hill

USPSTF recommendations directly shape which preventive services—such as mammograms, colonoscopies, depression screenings, and HIV prophylaxis—are fully covered by insurers. Disruption of the panel’s leadership and its prolonged inactivity raise concerns about delays in updating coverage guidelines and the potential politicization of preventive-care policy.

Washington Examiner

Kennedy’s letters emphasized that the dismissals were unrelated to performance and aimed to preserve confidence in the task force’s continuity. HHS spokespersons referred to the letters when asked for comment. AHRQ Director Klein reiterated that the action aligns with the secretary’s statutory authority and noted “institutional questions” regarding the original appointments, without detailing the specific concerns.

Politico

Public-health experts warned that the firings could undermine the task force’s “transparent and rigorous procedures,” essential for maintaining trust in evidence-based recommendations. Aaron Carroll of AcademyHealth argued that removing leaders before term completion “tampering with the critical infrastructure” of government health-care systems. Critics also highlighted Kennedy’s prior restructuring of CDC vaccine panels as evidence of potential ideological influence.

New York Times

Some sources label the action as undertaken by the “Trump administration,” while others attribute it to the Kennedy administration, reflecting inconsistent labeling of the current executive. The letters provide no specific rationale for the “institutional questions” cited, and the task force’s pending agenda and timeline for new appointments remain unclear.

Politico

• “It is not to be understood as a removal based on your leadership or contributions. To the contrary, the Department is taking this step to help protect the Task Force and preserve confidence in the continuity and durability of its work.” — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., termination letter

The Hill

• “If it had been doing its job, we would have early screening,” — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., House Energy and Commerce hearing

Politico

• “We just want to get the best people and have a more representative group of specialties,” — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., statement to reporters

Politico

• “That, again, is not how you build trust and not how you build consistency and a belief the system is functioning as it should,” — Aaron Carroll, CEO of AcademyHealth

CNN

• “Your continued participation would be highly valued,” — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., letter to Dr. Wong and Dr. Davis

The Hill

The May 23 deadline for USPSTF nominations will determine the panel’s composition for the coming term. Kennedy and AHRQ Director Klein will oversee the selection process. Observers anticipate scrutiny of the new members’ expertise and policy orientations as the task force prepares to resume meetings and issue preventive-care recommendations.

The Hill