A high-ranking vaccine official has reportedly resigned from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s leadership at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), citing concerns over “misinformation and lies.” However, a source familiar with the situation claims the scientist was actually forced out.
Dr. Peter Marks, who has led the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) since 2016, submitted his resignation on Friday. In his letter, Marks alleged that vaccine confidence is being undermined and called it “irresponsible, detrimental to public health, and a clear danger to our nation’s health, safety, and security,” according to NBC News.
The vaccine official also accused HHS Secretary Kennedy Jr. of wanting “subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies.” He claimed that although he had initially been open to working with Kennedy Jr. to address concerns about vaccine safety and transparency, he now believes that “truth and transparency are not desired by the secretary.”
However, a source familiar with the situation told the outlet that Marks was not leaving voluntarily but was instead pushed out of his position. A spokesperson for HHS reinforced this, stating, “If Peter Marks does not want to get behind restoring science to its golden standard and promoting radical transparency, then he has no place at FDA under the strong leadership of Secretary Kennedy.”
Kennedy Jr. has been a vocal critic of rushed vaccine development, particularly regarding the COVID-19 vaccines. In 2021, he labeled the coronavirus shot the “deadliest vaccine ever made.” That same year, Marks himself called for an immediate pause on Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine after reports of rare but severe blood clot cases, one of which resulted in death. At the time, Marks stated, “We are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution,” while also claiming that the adverse events appeared to be “extremely rare.”
The controversy surrounding Marks’ departure highlights the deep divisions in the public health sector over vaccine policy and transparency under Kennedy Jr.’s leadership.
