In HHS Shake-Up, Two Top Aides Have Left

Last week, CNN reported that US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had fired two of his top aides. “Kennedy’s chief of staff, Heather Flick Melanson, and deputy chief of staff for policy Hannah Anderson left HHS after only a handful of months on the job, following internal clashes that culminated in both of their removals this week,” Adam Cancryn wrote.

After CNN’s story went live, Flick Melanson said in an email to CNN, “It’s simple. I was not fired. I resigned.” Cancryn reported that “Flick Melanson had initially pushed to oust Anderson over dissatisfaction with her performance, three of the people familiar with the matter said.” However, “the firing was not carried out through the proper processes, the people said, including taking the White House by surprise. Those complications angered Kennedy and triggered his decision to then fire FlickMelanson over his loss of confidence in her as well.”

Christina Jewett, with The New York Times, noted that RFK Jr. demonstrated that he is willing to push his agenda forward. “He has pushed ahead with a plan to fire about 20,000 staff members from the health department and pare down 28 divisions to 15 — all amid court challenges,” Jewett wrote on July 16.

“In a statement, a department spokesman confirmed the leadership change, and said that Matt Buckham would serve as acting chief of staff,” Jewett furthermore reported.