Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired two of his top aides in the department. According to CNN, RFK Jr. fired chief of staff Heather Flick Melanson and deputy chief of staff for policy Hannah Anderson. RFK Jr. fires 2 top aides at HHS in staff shakeup https://t.co/WlKZvO53Mm — Fox News (@FoxNews) July 16, 2025 CNN provided further info: The decision came after Kennedy lost confidence in them as part of his leadership team, one of the people familiar with the matter said, although it was unclear whether there was a single triggering event that prompted the firings. In a statement, an HHS spokesman confirmed the moves and said the department’s White House liaison, Matt Buckham, would serve as acting chief of staff. “He brings valuable experience in personnel strategy and organizational management to this new role,” the spokesman said. “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.” Dr. Robert Malone, who RFK Jr. appointed to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), confirmed the firings. Confirmed https://t.co/Aj8gJlWE1i — Robert W Malone, MD (@RWMaloneMD) July 16, 2025 Fox News noted: Melanson is a lawyer who previously served in multiple top roles at HHS during the first Trump administration. She previously was HHS’ acting general counsel before becoming its acting secretary for administration and then eventually a senior adviser to then-HHS Secretary Alex Azar. Prior to joining HHS for the first time, Flick was an attorney at Dhillon Law Group, a firm founded by Harmeet Dhillon, who Trump has tapped this time around to be his assistant attorney general. “Heather Flick is outstanding and will most definitely help soon to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn said in a post on X after news of Flick’s new role.