Kennedy Faces Criticism Over HHS Health Data Cuts

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing criticism for decreasing public health data transparency one year after pledging radical transparency to rebuild trust in federal agencies. Reports indicate the administration has deleted health datasets and discontinued tracking systems, including the Drug Abuse Warning Network. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also scaled back foodborne illness monitoring to only two pathogens and ceased reporting on transgender student surveys.

Further data rollbacks include the delay of annual abortion surveillance reports. These reductions were partially driven by record-breaking government shutdowns and sweeping layoffs. President Donald Trump issued executive orders that contributed to the removal of health agency websites and the rollback of protections for transgender people.

Spokesperson Andrew Nixon defended the administration, stating that Kennedy is leading the most transparent Department of Health and Human Services in history. However, researchers and critics argue that the removal of this data prevents the systematic tracking of public health risks and the impact of current federal policies. Former CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry denied allegations that she directed staff to return state abortion data instead of analyzing it.