RFK Jr. Fires Two Trump-Appointed Senior Officials in Ongoing HHS Restructuring
THURSDAY, July 17, 2025 — U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has removed two senior officials who were appointed by President Donald Trump.
Heather Flick Melanson, chief of staff, and Hannah Anderson, a top policy adviser, were both let go recently. The decision came as a surprise to several federal health officials.
Both women had worked in Kennedy’s office with two other aides — senior counselor Stefanie Spear and executive secretary Cortney McCormick. Spear is a longtime Kennedy aide.
Sources told CBS News that Anderson and Flick Melanson were seen as loyal to the Trump White House. They were reportedly placed in the department to make sure the president’s agenda was being followed.
"The White House pretty much parachuted Heather in there to tether RFK and Stefanie a bit," one health official said.
Anderson was praised by a Trump ally who told CBS News she was “a person of impeccable integrity” and “loved working for President Trump.”
HHS has named Matt Buckham acting chief of staff, a department spokesperson confirmed. Buckham previously served as the department’s liaison to the White House and helped political appointees get oriented.
"Secretary Kennedy thanks the outgoing leadership for their service and looks forward to working closely with Mr. Buckham as the Department continues advancing its mission to Make America Healthy Again," the spokesperson said in a statement.
No reason was given for the firings, CBS News stated.
Sources
- CBS News, July 16, 2025
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Read this next
Household Items Tied to Sharp Increase in Self-Harm Cases in Teens
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 10, 2025 — Cases of self-harm involving 6- to 12-year-olds have risen sharply, and researchers warn that common household products are often...
Ultrasound Helmet Provides Surgery-Free Brain Stimulation
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 10, 2025 — Deep brain stimulation has shown promise in treating conditions ranging from epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease to cluster headaches...
Wireless Ultrasound: A Potential Revolution In Assessing On-Field Sports Injuries?
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 10, 2025 — The collegiate sports season is upon us, and with it the inevitable bruises, sprains and strains that come from tough competition. Portable...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.