The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has terminated multiple members of its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), including Paul Offit, a prominent critic of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. A Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson confirmed that the agency notified several committee members their special government employee terms had expired, effectively ending their roles.

Dr. Paul Offit, affiliated with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, was the only member explicitly removed from the FDA’s public list. His term was set to expire in January 2027, but he alleged no official reason for his removal. “They didn’t say why. They just said I’m not on the committee anymore,” Offit told BioSpace. He speculated that HHS officials opposed his presence, noting his outspoken criticism of RFK Jr., whom he described as a “vocal critic” of vaccine safety.

Offit has long clashed with RFK Jr. over vaccine policies, particularly opposing new FDA requirements mandating placebo-controlled trials for all vaccines. He dismissed these rules as “anti-vaccine activism come to the policy side.” In May, Offit called on Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to demand RFK Jr.’s resignation as HHS Secretary, citing his alleged misinformation about vaccine risks.

The controversy intensified after RFK Jr.’s brief tenure as HHS secretary, during which he faced scrutiny for decisions impacting COVID-19 vaccine approvals. Offit criticized Republican Senator Cassidy for insufficient action, urging him to confront former President Donald Trump over his support for RFK Jr. “He should march into [Trump’s] office and say, ‘This is not the guy,’” Offit said.

The VRBPAC’s role in advising the FDA has historically carried significant weight, with the agency typically adopting its recommendations without modification. The removal of key advisors has raised questions about the committee’s independence and the influence of political figures on public health policy.