Staff at NIH are speaking out about mass firings, research rollbacks, and a director they say is “full of shit.” Jay Bhattacharya’s leadership is pushing U.S. science into “continuous free fall.”

As the FDA moves to restrict COVID booster access for younger adults, Senate Republicans are ramping up anti-vaccine rhetoric in a series of high-profile hearings. At the center: Sen. Ron Johnson’s latest panel, a spectacle stacked with discredited doctors, conspiracy theorists, and long-time vaccine opponents.

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya ignited controversy by suggesting his agency may have funded research that caused the COVID-19 pandemic. His comments prompted dozens of staff to walk out.

The FDA just put a longtime COVID vaccine skeptic in charge of vaccine regulation. Dr. Vinay Prasad—known for cozying up to anti-vaxxers and downplaying pandemic mitigation—will now oversee the very vaccines he’s spent years undermining. Critics warn this appointment, pushed by RFK Jr.’s administration, could threaten public health and unravel years of scientific progress.

Trump’s pick for surgeon general, wellness influencer Casey Means, once called COVID “a Darwinian moment for America”—blaming victims for poor health instead of addressing systemic failures. With no active medical license and a history of pushing anti-vax rhetoric, Means joins a growing roster of public health officials in the Trump administration who promote pseudoscience over evidence-based care.

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RFK Jr.’s plan to investigate the causes of autism is raising alarms, as it’s being shaped by vaccine critics Jay Bhattacharya and Martin Kulldorff. Despite claims of neutrality, the project echoes anti-vax rhetoric and follows years of promoting debunked vaccine-autism theories. Experts warn it may be more about legitimizing fringe views than pursuing real science.

Dr. Tracy Beth Høeg, a vaccine-skeptical appointee with ties to RFK Jr., joined this week’s CDC vaccine policy meeting, raising alarm among public health experts. Despite limited immunization expertise, she used her platform to question vaccine safety and necessity—echoing anti-vax rhetoric. Her presence in place of the FDA’s usual expert signals growing influence of anti-vaccine ideology under Kennedy’s leadership.

After deadly measles outbreaks, HHS Secretary RFK Jr. has publicly backed the MMR vaccine—but continues promoting unproven treatments and casting doubt on vaccine efficacy. His lingering ties to anti-vax group CHD raise serious concerns.

Amid the layoffs and reorganization at the Food and Drug Administration, the new commissioner, Marty Makary, has brought on a new special assistant: Dr. Tracy Beth Høeg, a well-known COVID-19 contrarian with a history of casting doubt on the safety of the mRNA vaccines. Important Context gave a rundown of who she is.

Donald Trump’s picks to lead the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health were recently confirmed by the Senate, Drs. Mary Makary and Jay Bhattacharya, respectively. The pair became famous during the COVID-19 pandemic for their contrarian views on mitigation measures. AJI Science Adviser Dr. Jonathan Howard, author of the book, “We Want Them Infected: How the Failed Quest for Herd Immunity Led Doctors to Embrace the Anti-vaccine Movement and Blinded Americans to the Threat of COVID,” went through some of their more outlandish claims.

Donald Trump’s Health and Human Services secretary, Robert Kennedy Jr., and his Agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, have both suggested allowing the H5N1 bird flu virus to rip through poultry farms in order to achieve herd immunity. Important Context explored the origins of the mass infection strategy.

In response to growing concern about measles outbreaks in Texas and other states, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. published an op-ed in Fox News touting the benefits of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, which he has spent years fear-mongering about. His supporters were not pleased, Important Context reported.

Important Context reported on Donald Trump’s pick to lead the National Institutes of Health. In a podcast appearance from September, Stanford health economist Jay Bhattacharya suggested he would be open to more research into the discredited claim that vaccines are linked to autism. He also embraced alternative vaccine schedules, which are popular with anti-vaxxers.

Important Context reported on the financial disclosure forms of Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the National Institutes of Health. We covered how Dr. Jay Bhattacharya did not include a sizable award he received from a major right-wing dark money group.

On his first day in office, President Trump issued a regulatory freeze that effectively killed a proposal to limit the discharge of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” into water sources. Important Context looked at Trump’s order and how it made good on a plan from the infamous Project 2025.

Dr. Vinay Prasad is backing Trump’s drastic NIH cuts, earning a White House shoutout while scientists warn of devastating impacts. Critics say he’s angling for a role in the administration alongside NIH pick Jay Bhattacharya. Is this about reform or personal ambition?

At his confirmation hearing, RFK Jr. defended the debunked vaccine-autism link using a study from a journal run by his anti-vax allies. The study’s author, its publisher, and its editorial board are deeply tied to Kennedy’s network. Despite claiming to be “pro-safety,” he’s pushing discredited research from his own camp.

Important Context took a look at Donald Trump’s acting NIH director. Matthew Memoli, a veteran researcher at the agency, participated on a panel with Trump’s NIH director pick and other COVID-19 contrarians. During the course of the conversation, Memoli cast doubt on COVID vaccines.

Trump’s WHO withdrawal, driven by right-wing dark money groups like Heritage Foundation and Brownstone Institute, weakens global health efforts. These billionaire-backed organizations spread misinformation about the WHO’s pandemic treaty, prioritizing economic interests over public health. The move isolates the U.S. and threatens national biosecurity amid emerging disease risks.

Important Context did a deep dive into Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Former Congressman Lee Zeldin’s record on the climate is mixed, but he has generally been a reliable fossil fuel ally.