RFK Jr. Weakens U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
The New York Times••health
Key Points:
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has quietly disrupted the operations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a key independent panel that recommends cancer screenings, medications, and preventive care covered by most insurance plans.
- The task force has not met in person since March 2025, with its July and November meetings postponed and not rescheduled, causing delays in evaluating evidence and issuing new recommendations.
- The annual report to Congress, which identifies research priorities, was not published in 2025, and the status of replacing five members whose terms ended in December remains unclear.
- Experts warn that this disruption could jeopardize preventive care coverage for millions of insured Americans, as the task force’s output of recommendations has sharply declined from around 20
