Two USPSTF members were fired effective immediately after receiving letters dated May 11. The terminations were described as administrative and unrelated to performance or years of service, intended to protect the task force and preserve confidence in continuity and durability. The firings occurred while the task force had not met for the past year and was prevented from completing work to provide up-to-date preventive health guidance based on best-available evidence. The American College of Physicians expressed alarm, citing lack of transparency in any review conducted by Secretary Kennedy. The doctors challenged the decision through communications and a meeting, but the rationale remained unclear.
"“Both physicians are highly qualified experts, and we take issue with the lack of transparency in any review that Secretary Kennedy has conducted of members of the task force,” Carney said. “The firings come as the task force has not met over the course of the past year and has been prevented from doing their work to ensure that the American public has up-to-date guidance, based on the best-available evidence, about preventive health care services. The USPSTF guidance is critical to a healthy America, and we must not allow its membership or processes to be politicized.”"
"According to reports, they received a letter from Kennedy, dated May 11, notifying them they were terminated “effective immediately.” As to why they were fired, the letter stated: “This action is administrative in nature and is unrelated to your performance or many years of dedicated service to the Task Force. It is not to be understood as a removal based on your leadership or contributions. To the contrary, the Department is taking this step to help protect the Task Force and preserve confidence in the continuity and durability of its work.”"
"It also said the terminations would “avoid uncertainty that could jeopardize the validity of future task force actions.” The doctors pushed back, with email exchanges and a meeting with a Trump administration official, but the justification for the terminations remained murky."
#uspstf #preventive-healthcare-guidance #medical-task-force #administrative-terminations #transparency-and-politicization
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