U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has proposed eliminating public input on numerous policy decisions within his department, a move that contrasts with his previous commitment to “radical transparency” made to Congress. Detailed in a recent Federal Register document, the plan aims to remove the long-standing practice of allowing public comments on various agency actions, which has been in place since 1971. The new rule, set for formal publication on March 3, would exclude public feedback on decisions concerning agency management, personnel, public property, loans and grants, benefits, and contracts. It provides HHS the discretion to bypass public input when deemed “impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.” Critics argue this change could reduce transparency and accountability in healthcare decision-making, impacting the administration of major programs like Medicare and Medicaid. This proposal arises amid widespread changes in federal health agencies, including numerous dismissals at the CDC, FDA, and NIH, prompting concerns from House Democrats about potential adverse effects on public health. HHS has defended the move, citing the procedural burdens and inefficiencies of the current policy.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Moves to Eliminate Public Comment on Health Policies, Contradicting Transparency Pledge
