Overview
- HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sent letters dated May 11 terminating the appointments of USPSTF co-chairs John Wong and Esa Davis effective immediately and inviting them to reapply to the panel.
- The action comes as HHS is accepting new-member nominations with a fast‑closing May 23 application window and without the usual independent chair review of candidates.
- The task force has been largely sidelined, last meeting in March 2025 and operating with about eight of 16 seats vacant, which has delayed guideline updates on screening and prevention topics.
- A recent Supreme Court ruling confirmed the HHS secretary’s authority to remove and replace task force members, a legal change that critics say raises the risk of politicized appointments.
- Medical societies and policy groups, including AcademyHealth and the AMA, say the removals could weaken the Task Force’s independent, evidence‑based process and thereby affect which preventive services millions receive without cost under the Affordable Care Act.