Biologics

RFK Jr. Ignores Hill Request on Anti-Vax Activist HHS Role

HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing renewed scrutiny from Senate Democrats over the role of longtime anti-vaccine activist David Geier at the Department, as lawmakers say the agency has failed to provide details about his employment despite earlier promises to do so.

According to a 2/21 report published by Mother Jones, Kennedy told the Senate Finance Committee in mid-April that HHS would provide lawmakers with a copy of Geier’s contract within days. However, a spokesperson for Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) said the Department has remained quiet regarding Geier’s work. “Three weeks after Secretary Kennedy committed to providing details regarding David Geier’s work at HHS … our office has yet to hear from HHS on anything related,” the spokesperson said.

Geier and his late father, physician Mark Geier, became prominent figures in the anti-vaccine movement through their claims linking vaccines to autism, theories that have been repeatedly rejected by mainstream scientific and medical organizations. Autism advocacy organizations have sharply criticized Geier’s reported role within HHS. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network previously described Geier as “a quack” and accused the administration of undermining public health protections by employing him.

Senator Luján’s office has also questioned whether Geier has access to sensitive medical or personally identifiable information. In an 4/1 letter to Kennedy, lawmakers asked what research questions Geier was pursuing and what safeguards existed to protect data privacy.

The controversy comes amid broader criticism of Kennedy’s handling of vaccine policy at HHS. Since taking office, Kennedy has moved to overhaul federal vaccine advisory structures, including replacing members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a key federal vaccine advisory panel. His actions have prompted legal challenges and criticism from public health experts.

The report also noted that under Kennedy’s leadership, FDA removed a Web page warning consumers about unproven autism treatments, including chelation therapy, a practice previously promoted by the Geiers.

Separately, The New York Times recently reported that Kennedy has continued pursuing internal investigations into alleged links between vaccines, autism and autoimmune disorders despite extensive scientific evidence disproving such connections.

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Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

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