RFK Jr. fires task force members who decide what preventive medical care should be ​provided at no cost

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Wednesday 20 May 2026 16:58 EDT


US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has dismissed the chair and vice-chair of an influential task force responsible for determining which preventive medical services should be provided to patients at no cost.

Dr John Wong, professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, and Dr Esa Davis, professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, were removed from the United States Preventive Services Task Force, according to letters dated May 11 and seen by Reuters. An official for the Department of Health and Human Services, which RFK Jr. leads, confirmed the firings. Dr Wong’s term was due to end in March 2027, while Dr Davis’s was set to conclude in March 2028.

The task force, which typically has 16 members, last met over a year ago after Kennedy cancelled its regularly scheduled meetings. New members have not been named to replace the five volunteers whose terms expired in December, leaving the panel with a significantly reduced capacity.

In his letters, Kennedy stated the terminations were "administrative in nature" and noted that applications for a seat on the volunteer panel are open through May 23. Dr Wong, however, said in an email that both he and Dr Davis had reapplied to be members of the task force "with trepidation around the validity of the process.". Medical experts have voiced concerns that Kennedy's sidelining of the panel has delayed updates to vital screening guidelines for conditions such as cancer and heart disease.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/uspstf-leaders-fired-rfk-jr-task-force-preventative-care-b2980751.html

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[Karasu]

1. This RFK Jr. shit is going to be next to impossible to recover from, especially in a country as scientifically ignorant

as this one.

[maxsolomon]

2. It might be simpler than you think.

1. Fire EVERYONE appointed by JFK Jr.
2. Re-appoint EVERYONE fired by JFK Jr.
3. Repeat cycle as needed with each Republican Presidency.

[Karasu]

4. I don''t think it's a simple thing to do that...and the damage inflicted by his insane policies is going to endure.

[whathehell]

6. I would suggest that

the average person in most countries is "scientifically ignorant", and I doubt we're much different than others in that respect.
Ignorance would be judging the whole country on the basis of this most unprecedented Broligarch Bought administration.

[PatSeg]

3. You know

I think Trump appointed the freakiest of the freaks to important positions primarily as a huge "Fu*k you" to everyone who has disagreed or opposed him. "You think THEY were bad, just wait and see what I have waiting in the wings."

It is all a huge, ugly game to him. He doesn't care that much about policy, he wants to create chaos. He thrives on it, especially if HE is the one causing it. This is a very sick man.

[Buddyzbuddy]

5. Kennedy is not a fiscal conservative, so,

what could be the reason for the dismissal other than placing his personal opinion over that of medical experts.

[The Madcap]

7. He is doing them a favor.

Brainworm's firing them must mean their credentials are impeccable.