RFK Jr. Fires Two Top Aides in Major HHS Leadership Reshuffle

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired his chief of staff, Heather Flick Melanson, and deputy chief of staff for policy, Hannah Anderson, signaling a major leadership overhaul at the Department of Health and Human Services2 4 8.

Matt Buckham, previously the White House liaison for HHS, has been named acting chief of staff; he brings experience in personnel strategy and organizational management4 6 9.

The departures followed internal clashes and Kennedy's reported loss of confidence in the aides' ability to carry out his agenda, though Melanson has disputed being fired, calling it a resignation6 9.

The shakeup comes amid wider personnel reductions at HHS, including thousands of layoffs following a Supreme Court greenlight for workforce cuts6.

Kennedy's broader strategy includes aggressive downsizing (planning to lay off 20,000 staff and consolidate divisions), deregulation, and controversial changes to vaccine policy and advisory panels9.