RFK Jr. Reshuffles Top HHS Leadership, Replacing Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed his chief of staff Heather Flick Melanson and deputy chief of staff for policy Hannah Anderson in July 2025, just months into his tenure134.

The leadership shakeup comes amid ongoing tensions between Kennedy and the White House over responses to a measles outbreak, vaccine policy changes, and recent HHS staff reductions and grant cuts1.

Matt Buckham, previously the White House liaison for HHS and responsible for recruiting and onboarding political appointees, has been appointed Acting Chief of Staff13.

The biographies of the outgoing aides have been removed from the HHS leadership page3.

While no specific reasons were publicly disclosed for the dismissals, Kennedy expressed gratitude to the outgoing staff and highlighted Buckham's organizational experience as the department continues its "Make America Healthy Again" mission134.

Sources:

1. https://www.axios.com/2025/07/16/kennedy-fires-senior-hhs-aides

3. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rfk-jr-fires-2-top-aides-hhs-staff-shakeup

4. https://www.statnews.com/2025/07/16/kennedy-fires-top-hhs-aides-in-abrupt-leadership-shakeup/