Political Interference Threatens US Science Agencies, Sparking Lawsuits and Mass Exodus
The integrity of American science is under unprecedented assault as political appointees dismantle established protocols at key agencies like the FDA and CDC, raising fears of a decades-long setback for public health and biomedical research.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), long considered the world’s most influential drug agency, is facing an internal crisis following the appointment of Vinay Prasad as its head of Science and Medicine. At the end of May, Prasad effectively dismissed all scientists advising the agency, pushing for a rejection of recently developed COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Novavax for use in children aged 12 and under.
Prasad’s rationale, according to reports, centers on the assertion that the risks of these vaccines now outweigh their benefits, given the diminished threat posed by the virus. However, this claim is sharply contested by FDA scientists specializing in the field, who maintain that clinical trials involving thousands of patients demonstrate the vaccines’ safety and efficacy. Critics point out that Prasad’s objections do not challenge the validity of these trials but instead hinge on the possibility of undiscovered side effects – a standard that, if applied universally, could halt progress on all medical treatments. “For the same reason we could eliminate all cancer treatments, right? And the aspirins, already put,” one analyst noted, highlighting the absurdity of the argument.
This shift in policy is directly linked to the administration of Health Secretary Robert Kennedy, a prominent appointee of former President Donald Trump. The influence extends beyond the FDA, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) also reportedly falling under the control of individuals with anti-vaccine and pseudoscientific beliefs. Trump himself has characterized this approach as “gold-standard science,” a label that does little to quell concerns within the scientific community.
The consequences of this political intervention are already being felt. Approximately 3,000 FDA employees – roughly 15% of the agency’s workforce – have been dismissed or have left their positions. The situation is further complicated by Prasad’s oversight of the genetic and cellular therapy division, raising fears that progress in these critical fields could be arbitrarily blocked. As one scientist commented before Kennedy’s appointment, this situation is akin to “putting a Terraplanist at the head of NASA.”
The international scientific community is reacting with alarm. On Monday, six leading medical societies filed a lawsuit against Kennedy, alleging that his vaccine restrictions are unscientific and harmful to citizens. The plaintiffs argue that Kennedy has long maintained, without evidence, that vaccines are more dangerous than the viruses they are designed to combat – a claim they deem “rigorously false.” They characterize his efforts to undermine vaccines as a “mania,” fueled by misinformation circulating on social media.
The impact extends beyond the FDA. In June, the CDC dismissed 14 scientists advising on vaccines, replacing them with individuals lacking relevant expertise. In May, the CDC announced it would suspend its recommendation of COVID-19 vaccines for children and pregnant women, again without offering a rational justification.
This represents a broader attack on scientific advancement, exceeding even the scrutiny faced by Trump’s tariff policies. It is not a negotiation, but a “frontal attack on the advancement of knowledge,” according to observers. Concerns are growing that similar political ideologies could gain traction in other countries, including Spain.
Despite the turmoil, resistance is building within the American scientific establishment. The lawsuit filed this week represents a significant challenge to Kennedy’s policies. However, the long-term damage to these institutions – and to public trust in science – could be profound, potentially benefiting rival nations like China.
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