RFK Jr. Forces Resignation of FDA's Top Vaccine Official Amid Measles Outbreak
Peter Marks, the FDA's top vaccine scientist and key figure in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, has been forced to resign by the Trump administration, with the directive coming from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
RFK Jr at speaking podium
In his resignation letter, Marks criticized RFK Jr., accusing him of demanding "subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies" about vaccines. Marks had led the FDA's vaccine center through critical periods, including the pandemic response, where he was instrumental in expediting safe emergency COVID-19 vaccine approvals while advancing gene therapy and biologics regulation.
This forced resignation is part of RFK Jr.'s broader restructuring of federal health agencies since becoming HHS Secretary. Known for his skepticism of vaccine protocols, this move signals a clear message to other scientific leaders in the administration.
The timing is particularly concerning as the U.S. faces an uptick in measles cases. Scientists and health leaders have expressed alarm, viewing this as a dangerous precedent that could impact public trust in health institutions and potentially trigger further departures of key FDA personnel.
The resignation raises questions about the future direction of vaccine policy under the current administration and its potential impact on public health leadership. Health experts are closely monitoring these developments, particularly regarding their effects on ongoing public health initiatives and vaccine programs.