President Donald Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services, under the leadership of Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has removed Christine Grady—wife of Anthony Fauci—from her position as head of the bioethics division at the NIH Clinical Center, according to recent reports.
As first reported by Politico, Grady was dismissed on Tuesday. Sources familiar with the situation told the outlet that, in addition to her firing, several individuals who had worked closely with Fauci were reassigned. Fauci, who previously led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and served as a prominent health adviser to the White House during the COVID-19 crisis, has faced criticism in recent years for promoting lockdowns, masking, and vaccines—all of which ultimately failed to stop the spread of the virus.
Per Politico’s reporting: The shake-up occurred in the midst of widespread staffing reductions across HHS, which dramatically impacted leadership at both the NIH’s infectious disease division and important departments within the FDA. The abrupt moves shocked many inside the agencies and left members of the wider public health sphere stunned.
“It’s like a Fauci fixation,” said Dr. Eric Topol, a public health expert and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. “So many of these people are just dedicated, they really want to do good and now they’re losing their jobs senselessly.”
Politico interviewed 11 individuals for the article, several of whom requested anonymity due to concerns over retaliation.
While certain staff members were merely reassigned, others reportedly felt pushed out entirely, with some encouraged to exit government service altogether. The report also confirmed that Kennedy personally authorized Grady’s termination.
Kennedy addressed the department-wide changes in a post on Tuesday, stating that although the decisions were difficult, they were necessary.
“This is a difficult moment for all of us at HHS. Our hearts go out to those who have lost their jobs. But the reality is clear: what we’ve been doing isn’t working,” Kennedy said in a post on X.
“Despite spending $1.9 trillion in annual costs, Americans are getting sicker every year. In the past four years alone, the agency’s budget has grown by 38% — yet outcomes continue to decline,” he wrote, stressing the importance of changing direction.
“HHS needs to be recalibrated to emphasize prevention, not just sick care. These changes will not affect Medicare, Medicaid, or other essential health services,” he clarified.
“This overhaul is about realigning HHS with its core mission: to stop the chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again,” Kennedy concluded. “It’s a win-win for taxpayers, and for every American we serve.”

{Matzav.com}