When politicians subordinate scientific institutions to electoral interests, they undermine immediate public health efforts and inflict lasting damage on institutional credibility.

The Trump administration's "short pause" on communications, expected to end on Feb. 1, has affected FDA updates on food contamination investigations.

Of five major HHS agency offices focused on health equity, only one has taken down its website amid President Trump's executive orders to end federal government diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives.

Ahead of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation hearings, experts—and RFK’s own family—expressed concerns about his vaccine-related views, though the same experts are largely unfazed by the level of power he and Marty Makary could ultimately wield over the FDA.

On January 21, 2025, according to a memo made available by news outlets, Acting Secretary of HHS, Dr. Dorthy Fink, issued a memo directing

Caroline Kennedy sent a letter to lawmakers urging them not to confirm her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services, calling him "a predator" and arguing he is "unqualified" both professionally and personally.

Meanwhile, in an executive order, Trump created his long-discussed “Department of Government Efficiency,” to be led by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. On paper, the department is tasked with modernizing federal technology and software; however, Trump and Musk have spent months boasting about how it will gut the federal government.

In this week’s edition of InnovationRx, we look at HHS nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first Senate confirmation hearing, the chaos at the NIH and with federal research funding, new dosages for an Alzheimer’s drug, a major tuberculosis outbreak, and more. To get it in your inbox, subscribe here.

The memo says staff should coordinate with presidential appointees before issuing official communications to public officials.

The website changes raise concerns about “the interference of politics with the study and the practice” of science and medicine, a physician said.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for confirmation of his appointment to HHS Secretary.