Table of Contents
- Who Is Steven Hatfill?
- Why Was Hatfill Fired?
- Ties to RFK Jr. and mRNA Vaccine Stance
- What This Means for HHS Leadership
- Sources
Who Is Steven Hatfill?
Dr. Steven J. Hatfill is a controversial figure in U.S. public health circles. Once investigated—and later exonerated—in connection with the 2001 anthrax attacks, he has since rebuilt his career as a biosecurity expert and vocal critic of certain pandemic-era policies.
Most recently, Hatfill served as a senior adviser at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a role that placed him close to the inner workings of federal health policy under the Biden administration.
Why Was Hatfill Fired?
According to a senior HHS official, Hatfill was terminated over the weekend for allegedly misrepresenting his title as “chief medical officer” for the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). The official added that Hatfill had also failed to coordinate policy decisions with department leadership.
However, Hatfill disputes this account. In a brief phone interview, he claimed his firing was part of a broader internal power struggle targeting Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—a claim that has raised eyebrows across Washington.
“They asked me to resign,” Hatfill said. “I refused. So they fired me.” He alleged that Kennedy’s chief of staff, Matt Buckham, orchestrated what he described as “a coup” to sideline the secretary’s influence over vaccine policy.
Ties to RFK Jr. and mRNA Vaccine Stance
Hatfill has been a public supporter of Kennedy’s controversial decision to halt federal funding for mRNA vaccine research—a move that has drawn sharp criticism from mainstream scientists and public health advocates.
Kennedy, long known for his skepticism of conventional vaccine science, has faced mounting pressure since his Senate confirmation. His alignment with figures like Hatfill has only intensified scrutiny of HHS’s scientific credibility.
[INTERNAL_LINK:vaccine-policy] The mRNA funding freeze, announced earlier this month, cited “lack of long-term safety data” as justification—a stance echoed by Hatfill in recent media appearances.
What This Means for HHS Leadership
Hatfill’s abrupt exit underscores growing tensions within HHS. While the department insists the firing was procedural, insiders suggest it reflects deeper ideological rifts between Kennedy’s inner circle and career officials.
Political analysts note that such infighting could weaken HHS’s ability to respond to future public health emergencies—especially if trust in its leadership continues to erode.
For now, Kennedy remains in his post, but questions linger about how much control he truly wields over his own department.
