Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired two of the top HHS executives in an abrupt leadership shakeup at the nation’s sprawling health department.
Kennedy this week ousted chief of staff Heather Flick Melanson and deputy chief of staff for policy Hannah Anderson. The decision came after Kennedy lost confidence in them as part of his leadership team, according to two people familiar with the matter.
An HHS spokesperson confirmed the moves in a statement.
“Secretary Kennedy has made a leadership change within the Immediate Office of the Secretary. Effective immediately, Matt Buckham will serve as Acting Chief of Staff,” the statement read.
The department’s White House liaison, Matt Buckham, will take over as acting chief of staff while Kennedy searches for permanent replacements.
“Mr. Buckham currently serves as the Kennedy’s White House liaison at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where he oversees the recruitment and onboarding of political appointees across the agency. He brings valuable experience in personnel strategy and organizational management to this new role,” the spokesperson 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.”
Flick Melanson was among Kennedy’s most experienced Washington insiders, having served at HHS during President Donald Trump’s first term in multiple high-level roles. She first served as the department’s acting general counsel before becoming 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.
Anderson joined HHS after stints on Capitol Hill as a GOP staffer, including as health policy adviser to Republicans on the Senate’s main health committee. She had most recently headed up health care issues at the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute think tank before joining Kennedy’s team.
The leadership shakeup comes as Kennedy faces intense pressure to deliver on his promises to reform America’s health agencies. His popular “Make America Healthy Again” agenda includes plans to address vaccine policies and take on what he sees as corruption within federal health agencies.
The search for new senior staff will be crucial as Kennedy seeks to implement his ambitious reform agenda while navigating the “Swamp” of one of the federal government’s largest department.