RFK Jr. Promised Transparency, But Public Health Data Has Declined

Experts say the federal government now shares less public health data, even after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vowed 'radical transparency'.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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A year after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promised to rebuild trust in federal health agencies through 'radical transparency', many types of public health information that steadily flowed from the government for years or decades have been delayed, deleted, or stopped altogether. Experts say changes in the flow of federal health data have hampered research and public understanding, with the government citing priorities and resource constraints as reasons for the cutbacks.

Why it matters

The reduction in public health data sharing raises concerns about transparency and accountability, as well as the ability of researchers, policymakers, and the public to monitor and address critical public health issues like the overdose epidemic, food safety, and the health of vulnerable populations like LGBTQ+ youth.

The details

Examples of reduced public health data include: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention failing to post its annual abortion surveillance report, the termination of the Drug Abuse Warning Network that tracked emergency department visits related to drug use, the end of successful public education campaigns on smoking, and the scaling back of required reporting on foodborne illnesses. The government has also removed information from its websites related to HIV and transgender people, and has not released ethics disclosures for members of the reconstituted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

  • In June 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed the entire Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and named his own replacements.
  • In July 2025, the Trump administration scaled back required reporting on foodborne illnesses to just two pathogens.
  • In 2025, the CDC failed to post its annual abortion surveillance report, which is normally released in November.

The players

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The U.S. Health Secretary who promised 'radical transparency' but has overseen reductions in public health data sharing.

Ariel Beccia

A researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health who focuses on the health of LGBTQ+ youth and has expressed anger over the changes in federal health information.

Dr. Debra Houry

The former chief medical officer at the CDC who says the delay in the agency's annual abortion surveillance report was not due to her direction, but rather due to HHS cutbacks to funding and staffing.

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What they’re saying

“We pay taxes to hopefully have good, inclusive public health practice and data. The past year it felt like every single day, something that I and my colleagues use daily in our work has just been taken away.”

— Ariel Beccia, Researcher, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

“Secretary Kennedy is leading the most transparent HHS in history, with unprecedented disclosure and openness aimed at restoring public trust in federal health agencies.”

— Andrew Nixon, Spokesman for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“The report was derailed because of Health and Human Services cutbacks to the funding and staff needed to get it done.”

— Dr. Debra Houry, Former CDC Chief Medical Officer

What’s next

The CDC's annual abortion surveillance report is expected to be released this spring, after missing its usual November publication date.

The takeaway

The reduction in public health data sharing under Secretary Kennedy's tenure raises concerns about transparency and the ability to monitor and address critical public health issues, even as the administration claims unprecedented openness. Restoring robust public health data collection and reporting will be crucial to rebuilding trust in federal health agencies.