Secretary of Health and Human Services - 101
U.S. Health Secretary Reshapes Department Policies, Eliminating Public Input and Transgender Youth Guidance
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been at the forefront of several significant developments in the last few days, reflecting a marked shift in the department's policies and procedures.
One of the most notable changes involves the rule-making process within HHS. On March 3, 2025, Secretary Kennedy announced the rescission of the Richardson Waiver, a policy that had been in place since 1971. This waiver required new rules and regulations to be open for public comment before implementation, a practice that went beyond the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The new policy aligns HHS rulemaking procedures with the APA, eliminating the mandatory public comment period for certain types of rules, such as those related to agency management, personnel, public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts. This change is expected to grant Secretary Kennedy more discretion and reduce administrative hurdles, although it has been met with criticism from those who value public transparency and participation[2][4].
In addition to this procedural change, Secretary Kennedy and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins have been working on the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Following the inaugural meeting of the Make America Healthy Again Commission, they announced their commitment to releasing the final guidelines ahead of the statutory deadline of December 31, 2025. The guidelines are currently under a line-by-line review of the Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Both secretaries emphasized the importance of basing the guidelines on sound science rather than political ideologies, with a focus on promoting healthy choices and outcomes[1].
Another significant decision made by Secretary Kennedy involves the rescission of prior guidance related to gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) rescinded the 2022 guidance on civil rights and health information privacy for transgender youth, aligning with Executive Orders 14187 and 14168. This move reflects a shift in the administration's policy, with HHS now stating it will not promote, assist, or support gender-affirming care for children[2].
These changes underscore a broader effort by the current administration to reshape health and human services policies. Secretary Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" agenda has been a central theme since his appointment, with a focus on transforming federal health guidance and promoting policies that align with the administration's vision for public health[5].
One of the most notable changes involves the rule-making process within HHS. On March 3, 2025, Secretary Kennedy announced the rescission of the Richardson Waiver, a policy that had been in place since 1971. This waiver required new rules and regulations to be open for public comment before implementation, a practice that went beyond the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The new policy aligns HHS rulemaking procedures with the APA, eliminating the mandatory public comment period for certain types of rules, such as those related to agency management, personnel, public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts. This change is expected to grant Secretary Kennedy more discretion and reduce administrative hurdles, although it has been met with criticism from those who value public transparency and participation[2][4].
In addition to this procedural change, Secretary Kennedy and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins have been working on the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Following the inaugural meeting of the Make America Healthy Again Commission, they announced their commitment to releasing the final guidelines ahead of the statutory deadline of December 31, 2025. The guidelines are currently under a line-by-line review of the Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Both secretaries emphasized the importance of basing the guidelines on sound science rather than political ideologies, with a focus on promoting healthy choices and outcomes[1].
Another significant decision made by Secretary Kennedy involves the rescission of prior guidance related to gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) rescinded the 2022 guidance on civil rights and health information privacy for transgender youth, aligning with Executive Orders 14187 and 14168. This move reflects a shift in the administration's policy, with HHS now stating it will not promote, assist, or support gender-affirming care for children[2].
These changes underscore a broader effort by the current administration to reshape health and human services policies. Secretary Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" agenda has been a central theme since his appointment, with a focus on transforming federal health guidance and promoting policies that align with the administration's vision for public health[5].
- Broadcast on:
- 16 Mar 2025
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been at the forefront of several significant developments in the last few days, reflecting a marked shift in the department's policies and procedures.
One of the most notable changes involves the rule-making process within HHS. On March 3, 2025, Secretary Kennedy announced the rescission of the Richardson Waiver, a policy that had been in place since 1971. This waiver required new rules and regulations to be open for public comment before implementation, a practice that went beyond the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The new policy aligns HHS rulemaking procedures with the APA, eliminating the mandatory public comment period for certain types of rules, such as those related to agency management, personnel, public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts. This change is expected to grant Secretary Kennedy more discretion and reduce administrative hurdles, although it has been met with criticism from those who value public transparency and participation[2][4].
In addition to this procedural change, Secretary Kennedy and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins have been working on the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Following the inaugural meeting of the Make America Healthy Again Commission, they announced their commitment to releasing the final guidelines ahead of the statutory deadline of December 31, 2025. The guidelines are currently under a line-by-line review of the Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Both secretaries emphasized the importance of basing the guidelines on sound science rather than political ideologies, with a focus on promoting healthy choices and outcomes[1].
Another significant decision made by Secretary Kennedy involves the rescission of prior guidance related to gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) rescinded the 2022 guidance on civil rights and health information privacy for transgender youth, aligning with Executive Orders 14187 and 14168. This move reflects a shift in the administration's policy, with HHS now stating it will not promote, assist, or support gender-affirming care for children[2].
These changes underscore a broader effort by the current administration to reshape health and human services policies. Secretary Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" agenda has been a central theme since his appointment, with a focus on transforming federal health guidance and promoting policies that align with the administration's vision for public health[5].
One of the most notable changes involves the rule-making process within HHS. On March 3, 2025, Secretary Kennedy announced the rescission of the Richardson Waiver, a policy that had been in place since 1971. This waiver required new rules and regulations to be open for public comment before implementation, a practice that went beyond the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The new policy aligns HHS rulemaking procedures with the APA, eliminating the mandatory public comment period for certain types of rules, such as those related to agency management, personnel, public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts. This change is expected to grant Secretary Kennedy more discretion and reduce administrative hurdles, although it has been met with criticism from those who value public transparency and participation[2][4].
In addition to this procedural change, Secretary Kennedy and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins have been working on the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Following the inaugural meeting of the Make America Healthy Again Commission, they announced their commitment to releasing the final guidelines ahead of the statutory deadline of December 31, 2025. The guidelines are currently under a line-by-line review of the Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Both secretaries emphasized the importance of basing the guidelines on sound science rather than political ideologies, with a focus on promoting healthy choices and outcomes[1].
Another significant decision made by Secretary Kennedy involves the rescission of prior guidance related to gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) rescinded the 2022 guidance on civil rights and health information privacy for transgender youth, aligning with Executive Orders 14187 and 14168. This move reflects a shift in the administration's policy, with HHS now stating it will not promote, assist, or support gender-affirming care for children[2].
These changes underscore a broader effort by the current administration to reshape health and human services policies. Secretary Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" agenda has been a central theme since his appointment, with a focus on transforming federal health guidance and promoting policies that align with the administration's vision for public health[5].