RFK Jr. Plans Overhaul Of Health Panel Over Woke Ideology

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is preparing to overhaul yet another key health advisory panel, this time aiming at the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Sources report that Kennedy intends to oust all 16 members of the task force due to their past “woke” commentary and questionable recommendations.

The USPSTF plays a significant role in shaping insurance coverage for preventive measures like cancer screenings and other health protocols. Critics argue that the task force has increasingly pushed ideological agendas instead of focusing solely on sound medical science.

Kennedy’s move comes amid mounting criticism of the task force’s tone and language in recent years. Examples cited by The American Conservative and others include:

• Discussing “racial discrimination” as a factor for anxiety in children and teenagers.

• Using the term “pregnant persons” instead of pregnant women.

• Highlighting the “lasting psychological impact” of enslaved Black women being forced to act as wet nurses in a breastfeeding publication.

Kennedy believes that this language and approach reflect an ideological slant that distracts from the panel’s core mission of advancing public health. In a statement, HHS said Kennedy “looks forward to working with the USPSTF to improve public health,” suggesting major changes are on the horizon.

This planned overhaul follows Kennedy’s dramatic dismissal of all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) a highly influential vaccine panel. Kennedy argued the panel lacked transparency, noting it had “never recommended against a vaccine even those later withdrawn for safety reasons.”

Under Kennedy’s leadership, ACIP has already made significant changes:

• Recommending a new RSV shot to protect infants against a dangerous respiratory virus.

• Endorsing flu vaccines without thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative long criticized for potential health risks.

The revamped ACIP is also preparing to review the childhood vaccination schedule, a move that is already sparking debate among both medical professionals and parents who want greater scrutiny over mandatory vaccine programs.

Kennedy’s broader goal appears to be restoring trust in public health institutions that, under past administrations, were accused of bowing to pharmaceutical interests and politicized agendas. His efforts to overhaul panels like ACIP and USPSTF are being applauded by many conservatives who believe federal health policy has been hijacked by left-wing ideology.

As Kennedy continues to make these sweeping changes, the Biden-era health establishment and its allies in the media are likely to push back, framing his efforts as controversial. But with public trust in health agencies still low following years of COVID-era mismanagement, Kennedy’s reforms may resonate with Americans tired of politicized medicine.

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