RFK Jr. Fires Two Trump-Appointed Senior Officials in Ongoing HHS Restructuring

THURSDAY, July 17, 2025 (HealthDay News) — U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has removed two senior officials who were appointed by President Donald Trump.

Heather Flick Melanson, chief of staff, and Hannah Anderson, a top policy adviser, were both let go recently. The decision came as a surprise to several federal health officials.

Both women had worked in Kennedy’s office with two other aides — senior counselor Stefanie Spear and executive secretary Cortney McCormick. Spear is a longtime Kennedy aide.

Sources told CBS News that Anderson and Flick Melanson were seen as loyal to the Trump White House. They were reportedly placed in the department to make sure the president’s agenda was being followed.

“The White House pretty much parachuted Heather in there to tether RFK and Stefanie a bit,” one health official said.

Anderson was praised by a Trump ally who told CBS News she was “a person of impeccable integrity” and “loved working for President Trump.”

HHS has named Matt Buckham acting chief of staff, a department spokesperson confirmed. Buckham previously served as the department’s liaison to the White House and helped political appointees get oriented.

“Secretary Kennedy thanks the outgoing leadership for their service and looks forward to working closely with Mr. Buckham as the Department continues advancing its mission to Make America Healthy Again,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

No reason was given for the firings, CBS News stated.

More information

Learn more about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

SOURCE: CBS News, July 16, 2025