The Trump administration terminated the positions of the two leaders of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Dr. John Wong and Dr. Esa Davis, amidst concerns that they were replaced with political appointees. This development raised questions regarding the task force's credibility and decision-making processes.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Committee on Finance hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of Health and Human Services on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Washington.
President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters during and event about prescription drug prices in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus, Monday, May 18, 2026, in Washington, as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., listens.
– The Trump administration has fired the two leaders of an influential health group that determines when insurance must provide free preventive care, likeIn letters dated May 11, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. notified the two doctors who chaired the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that he was terminating their appointments immediately, before the end of their multiyear terms.
The Department of Health and Human Services already had largely sidelined the task force, indefinitely postponing scheduled public meetings over the past year and thus leaving some long-expected updates onThe panel, first created in the 1980s, is composed of experts who scrutinize the latest evidence behind a wide array of disease prevention tools, such as depression screenings ad the use of statins to prevent heart attacks. The panel updates guidelines with letter grades showing the strength of the science.
Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans must cover preventive services given an “A” or “B” grade without requiring a co-pay. Kennedy’s letters don’t make clear why he ousted Drs. John Wong and Esa Davis from the panel. He wrote that their “leadership, contributions and expertise” have advanced the task force’s work “to improve the health of Americans” and encouraged them to reapply.
He said he was reviewing task force appointments “to ensure clarity, continuity and confidence” in HHS oversight. The letters were first reported by The New York Times. An HHS spokesman didn’t respond to questions about why the two were fired. Kennedy told lawmakers last month that he was reforming the task force, calling it “lackadaisical,” so that it would meet more frequently and “have, for the first time, transparency.
” The panel holds public meetings, opens its draft guidelines to public comment before finalizing them, and publishes the scientific evidence behind them. Some health advocates had worried that Kennedy was preparing to replace the expert panel with less experienced political appointees, like he had done with a critical vaccine advisory committee.
Over the past year, the task force wasn’t allowed to publish its final update to the cervical cancer screening guideline or take steps to update recommendations about maternal depression, said former task force chairman Dr. Michael Silverstein, a pediatrician.
“This is a level of government intrusion into scientific processes that I’ve not experienced in my 10 years on the task force,” he said. The panel has staggered terms so that normally health secretaries can regularly appoint new members, making their mark on the task force without upending it, said Aaron Carroll of the nonpartisan healthy policy group AcademyHealth.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Parking plan, first residents, and retail timeline take shape at Pearl Square downtownTrinity Christian Wins it All 🏆🏆SJC commissioners weigh changes after IRONMAN Jacksonville traffic delays, safety concernsFire union contract negotiations remain stalled in St. Johns CountyGeorgia voters take part in key primary ahead of hotly contested midtermsGetting tips from the pros.
Picking up supplies and advise from Five Points FarmIronman Jacksonville hit its stride with athletes, but locals say the city wasn’t race-readyBurroughs Brothers Host Elite Football CampAthletes and the city put on excellent show in first Ironman Jacksonville eventSister of Jacksonville hit-and-run victim takes to social media to demand justice
USPSTF US Preventive Services Task Force Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health And Human Services Department Of Health And Human Services Task Force Appointments Cervical Cancer Screening Maternal Depression Transparency
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
ICYMI, the Trump Admin Wants to Create a Slush Fund for Trump’s Biggest Suck-UpsSince 2007, Jezebel has been the Internet's most treasured source for everything celebrities, sex, and politics...with teeth.
Read more »
Trump-IRS settlement 'forever' bars audits into tax claims for Trump and his familyThe Justice Department has barred the Internal Revenue Service from pursuing audits on President Donald Trump, his relatives and his companies, according to a document released Tuesday.
Read more »
RFK Jr. fires heads of preventive services task forceHHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired two members of a task force that sets rules on what health services must be fully covered by insurance companies.
Read more »
Early detection, AI tools, personalized care redefine preventive healthFountain Life, a company focused on preventive and precision healthcare, has opened its fifth location in Houston, Texas, bringing with it full-body MRI scanning, advanced cardiac imaging and AI-powered health analytics to help members get ahead of serious illness before symptoms ever appear.
Read more »