US Health Secretary Kennedy fires two top leaders in latest department shakeup

July 16 (Reuters) - U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired two top leaders at the department, chief of staff Heather Flick Melanson and deputy chief of staff for policy Hannah Anderson, a spokesperson told Reuters on Wednesday.

Matt Buckham, who currently serves as Kennedy's White House Liaison at the HHS, will serve as acting chief of staff, effective immediately, the spokesperson said.

In his current role, Buckham oversees the recruitment and onboarding of political appointees across HHS.

Since taking over as U.S. health secretary, Kennedy has proposed to overhaul the department by reorganizing several HHS agencies and substantially cutting their workforce. Earlier this month, a federal judge blocked the proposal to implement the restructuring.

HHS oversees the work of health agencies including the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kennedy, who for decades has sown doubt about the safety of vaccines contrary to evidence and research by scientists, in June fired all 17 members of an independent panel of experts that advises CDC on vaccine policy, and replaced them with seven new hand-picked members.

The layoffs on Wednesday were first reported by CNN. Kennedy has not yet decided on permanent replacements to fill these roles, according to the CNN report.

Melanson and Anderson were ousted only after a few months on the jobs, and it was unclear whether there was a single triggering event that prompted the firings, the report said.

An HHS spokesperson declined to provide any additional details about the staff reorganization.

Anderson has previously worked as a health policy advisor for the Senate Health Committee. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment on LinkedIn.

Flick Melanson, who held senior positions at the HHS during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term, could not immediately be reached for a comment.