The health secretary has already replaced one of the ousted advisers.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired several top advisers, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed on July 16.
“Secretary Kennedy has made a leadership change within the Immediate Office of the Secretary,” a spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email.
The fired aides are Heather Flick Melanson, who was the HHS chief of staff, and Hannah Anderson, who had been the department’s deputy chief of staff for policy, according to Dr. Robert Malone, a close ally of Kennedy whom the health secretary recently appointed to a federal advisory committee.
Melanson did not return a request for comment by publication time.
Anderson could not be reached.
Melanson has worked in two different presidential administrations, according to her profile on the Republican National Lawyers Association website.
Anderson was until January a director at the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit that has been supportive of many of President Donald Trump’s policies, according to her LinkedIn page. She had also been an adviser to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, which is chaired by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.).
Melanson, who is still listed in the HHS employee directory, was removed on Wednesday as being listed as the HHS chief of staff on the main HHS website. Matt Buckham is now listed as the acting chief of staff.
Buckham, who is also Kennedy’s White House liaison and oversees recruiting and onboarding of political appointees across HHS, “brings valuable experience in personnel strategy and organizational management to this new role,” the HHS spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added, “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.”
Contact information for Buckham could not be found.
Departures from HHS have been rare in Trump’s second term, although Thomas Corry, Kennedy’s top spokesperson, resigned in March after a short stint with the department that started before Kennedy was confirmed.
