Overview
- Health and Human Services confirmed Steven J. Hatfill was fired for cause over the weekend, without releasing detailed documentation.
- A senior department official said Hatfill claimed the title of chief medical officer for the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and failed to coordinate policymaking with leadership.
- Hatfill disputed the rationale, alleging a coup against Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. by chief of staff Matt Buckham and sharing an image of an HHS-issued business card listing the disputed title.
- He said he refused a request to resign, was then terminated, and was locked out of department systems, while asserting he had complied with HHS policy.
- Hatfill, a prominent critic of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines who backed cutting mRNA research funding and promoted hydroxychloroquine, was dismissed during broader personnel turbulence that has included the ouster of the CDC chief and staff reductions at the agency.