HHS Secretary Kennedy Proposes In-House Medical Journals, Criticizes Major Medical Publications and Agencies

Kennedy's Plan to Shift NIH Research from Leading Journals Amid Budget Cuts and Agency Overhaul

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to shift government-funded research away from publishing in major medical journals like The Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, and JAMA, citing concerns about their integrity. Instead, he proposed creating "in-house" journals under his agency’s control, which he claimed would become leading publications due to their association with National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. These journals are globally recognized, with The Lancet and JAMA reporting over 30 million annual website visits each, and the New England Journal of Medicine reaching over 1 million weekly readers.

Kennedy also criticized agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, including the NIH, CDC, FDA, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, alleging undue influence from pharmaceutical companies. Recently, he bypassed CDC guidance to halt recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines for healthy pregnant women and children. Additionally, the Trump administration released a "MAHA report" challenging mainstream medical views, particularly on vaccines, though experts noted inaccuracies in its scientific claims.

Significant budget cuts have impacted research, with NIH funding dropping by over $3 billion from January to March 2025 compared to the previous year. Kennedy’s leadership has also led to the removal of approximately 20,000 federal workers from HHS, affecting research and regulatory functions. These changes have raised concerns in the scientific community, with some U.S. researchers considering opportunities abroad as countries like France, Germany, Spain, and China recruit American talent.

This story originally appeared on The Washington Post