Kennedy Fires HHS Deputies Amid Restructuring Push

US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly fired Chief of Staff Heather Flick Melanson and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Hannah Anderson just months into their tenures. No official reason was given, but sources say Kennedy lost confidence in their leadership, with no single triggering event identified. The firings come as Kennedy pursues controversial restructuring of HHS, including proposed mass layoffs and major changes to vaccine policy, initiatives that have faced legal and political pushback. Matt Buckham, the department's White House liaison, has been named acting chief of staff. The departures leave Kennedy with critical vacancies during a period of heightened scrutiny over his policy agenda. Both fired aides had extensive experience from prior federal health roles in the Trump administration and GOP policy circles.