On July 25, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was planning to take the unprecedented step of dismissing all current members of the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). This reporting follows the cancellation of the July USPSTF meeting and the Supreme Court’s decision in Kennedy v. Braidwood affirming the HHS Secretary’s authority over the Task Force and its membership. It also follows an April letter to the administration from previous Task Force members and chairs warning against politicization and that such actions could undermine the ability of the Task Force to conduct rigorous, conflict free reviews. 

Concerns over Task Force Politicization 

The American Medical Association (AMA) was one of the first medical professional societies to publicly express concern over the WSJ’s findings. The AMA sent a letter to HHS urging it to “retain the previously appointed members of the USPSTF and commit to its long-standing process of regular meetings to ensure their important work can continue without interruption,” underscoring concerns about delays or disruptions to its preventive care guidance. 

Additional statements of support for USPSTF followed, including from the Washington State Nurses Association on behalf of several state and national nursing groups. Their statement warned that any move to replace USPSTF members for ideological reasons “threatens the health and well-being of communities nationwide.” Another statement, jointly issued by the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians (ACP), and American Psychiatric Association, warned that increased political interference would represent “an alarming erosion in reliance on scientific integrity” with potentially “grave consequences” for public health. 

Ripple Effects Across Public Health Infrastructure 

Additional stakeholders, including the HIV Medicine Association and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, issued statements emphasizing that politicizing the USPSTF could destabilize access to evidence-based preventive services like cancer screenings, HIV prevention medications, and maternal mental health interventions. For example, the ACP highlighted concerns about coverage under Affordable Care Act mandates, stating that “the abrupt and unexplained decision raises concerns about…payment and coverage of evidence-based preventive care…”. 

Friends of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and 104 cosigning health organizations (including the American Public Health Association) sent a letter to Congress warning that loss of trust in the Task Force’s nonpartisan work could “devastate patients, hospital systems, and payers as misinformation creates barriers to accessing lifesaving and cost effective care.” Additionally, the American Society of Hematology, with the support of nearly 200 organizations, called on Sec. Kennedy to maintain current structures so expert panels can continue making unbiased recommendations. In an open letter they wrote, “we cannot ‘Make America Healthy Again’ without trusted…preventive health services.”  

Congressional Response 

Members of Congress have also weighed in. For example, Senator Angus King (Independent-Maine) introduced a resolution affirming support for the USPSTF’s evidence-based mission and urging HHS to reconvene the Task Force without delay. Seven democratic Senators (Senators Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut), Kirsten Gillibrand (New York), Chris Van Hollen (Maryland), Ben Ray Luján (New Mexico) Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota), and Patty Murray (Washington)) supported the bill. Sen. Elizabeth Warren  warned, “the US Preventive Services Task Force makes evidence-based recommendations so Americans can get preventive care like cancer screenings and HIV prevention for free—but the Trump administration is threatening to rip that away.” Sen. Patty Murray expressed deep concern over the future of the Task Force stating “I’m concerned Secretary Kennedy may be taking the first steps to dismantle the Preventive Services Task Force and attack its mission and commitment to scientific evidence, just like he has done at the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee and across our nation’s public health agencies.” 

Looking Ahead: Preserving Evidence-Based Policy 

While potential changes to the USPSTF have not been implemented, the unified response from providers and lawmakers mirrors similar calls to action following the overhaul of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). For example, the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, joined by 96 additional signatories, urging Sec. Kennedy to “follow the long-established public process for ACIP nominations and selection of members.” Additionally, members of the Senate Democratic caucus urged the Secretary to “restore legitimacy to this historically non-partisan, science-based, and data-driven committee.” 

Similar to the ACIP response, healthcare leaders are again unified in their message about the future of USPSTF: preserving scientific independence is critical for maintaining public trust in preventive health policy. As one letter from 34 colorectal cancer organizations stated, “we urge [HHS] to protect the USPSTF’s core mission: to provide objective, evidence-based recommendations free from political influence.” 

If current membership is replaced outside of established processes, or if meetings remain suspended indefinitely, stakeholders warn this could undermine federal guidance relied upon by clinicians, insurers, employers, and—most importantly—patients seeking no-cost access to preventive services. 

Next Steps 

Avalere Health’s cross functional team is uniquely equipped to support  stakeholders interested in successfully navigating the evolving landscape of USPSTF recommendations and submission processes. Understanding the access landscape for screening requires a partner with strategic foresight and deep expertise in evidence, policy, and quality frameworks. Leveraging expertise in evidence generation and planning, market strategy, and policy shaping, Avalere Health can provide strategic and tactical recommendations that meet individual client needs. To learn more about how Avalere Health can assist you, connect with us.