RFK Jr. is making changes at the NIH: A Controversial Purge in Motion
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), as HHS Secretary, has been aggressively reshaping the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through high-profile removals—actions that have sparked fierce debate. By early October 2025, these moves are part of a broader restructuring aimed at what Kennedy calls “restoring trust” in public health institutions.
Who’s Been Removed and Why?
RFK Jr. has targeted leaders tied to the previous administration’s COVID-19 policies, particularly those advocating vaccines, masks, and lockdowns. The most recent high-profile firing:
- Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID): Terminated on September 26, 2025, via a terse letter citing Kennedy’s “constitutional authority”. Dr. Jeanne, who succeeded Anthony Fauci in 2023, had already been on administrative leave since March after clashing with Trump appointees over vaccine research and grant cancellations. Just three weeks prior, on September 4, she filed a whistleblower complaint alleging illegal retaliation for opposing policies that “undermined scientific integrity,” including hostility toward vaccines and defiance of court orders on research funding. Her attorney called it “clear retaliation,” and she’s pursuing legal action under whistleblower protections.
This isn’t isolated—it’s part of a wave:
- Earlier Firings (April–September 2025): Four other NIH institute directors were ousted on NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya’s first day (April 1), including those leading minority health, child health, and nursing research. They were offered reassignments to the Indian Health Service, but most declined.
- Broader Purge: Nearly 5,000 NIH staffers let go, 2,500 grants terminated (including HIV, Alzheimer’s, and cancer trials), and $500 million in mRNA vaccine contracts canceled. Kennedy also dissolved the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in June, replacing it with handpicked members who recently altered MMR vaccine guidelines.
Kennedy frames these as “absolutely necessary” to eliminate “Fauci-era overreach” and redirect funds toward chronic disease research, environmental toxins, and alternative therapies like hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).
The Good: Arguments for RFK Jr.’s Approach
From Kennedy’s perspective (and echoed by his backers), these removals address systemic flaws exposed during COVID:
- Restoring Public Trust: NIH’s handling of the pandemic—lockdowns, mandates, and gain-of-function research—eroded confidence. Polls show vaccine hesitancy at 30%+ post-2021, partly due to perceived opacity.
- Reallocating Resources: Billions were funneled to pharma-tied grants (72% of NIH funding goes to institutions with industry revolving doors). Cuts target “fear-driven” policies, freeing up cash for autism, obesity, and toxin studies—areas Kennedy prioritizes.
- Public Backlash Against Mandates: X users celebrate it as “trash take-out time,” with posts like “I lost 2 years of my career for you and your demonic quacks,” highlighting economic and mental health fallout from restrictions.
Public Reactions
On X (Latest Sentiment): Polarized—49K+ likes on pro-firing posts like Leading Report’s (“Taking out the trash”). Semantic searches show more than 60% positive toward “cleaning house,”. #FireMarrazzo trended with 150K+ posts, many praising it as “justice for lockdown victims” (e.g., lost jobs, school disruptions). Kennedy allies like Dr. Pierre Kory hailed her HCQ skepticism as “reckless endangerment.”
Many outlets hail it as ending “Fauci clones”.
Ref:
Kennedy Fires N.I.H. Scientist Who Filed Whistle-Blower Complaint. [ https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/health/kennedy-marrazzo-nih.html ]
The US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has fired a top scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) just three weeks after she had filed a whistleblower complaint against the Trump administration relating to its hostility towards vaccines, according to a report. [ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/03/rfk-jr-jeanne-marrazzo-nih-fired ]