Washington, D.C. – May 28, 2025
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparked controversy on Tuesday by announcing plans to potentially bar National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists from publishing in leading medical journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and The Lancet. Speaking on the “Ultimate Human” podcast, Kennedy labeled these journals “corrupt,” alleging they are influenced by pharmaceutical companies and publish studies that prioritize corporate interests over scientific integrity.
Kennedy, a longtime critic of Big Pharma, claimed that the journals’ ties to the pharmaceutical industry compromise their credibility, citing 2009 and 2015 statements from former NEJM editor Marcia Angell and The Lancet’s editor Richard Horton, who expressed concerns about industry influence and research replicability. He proposed that unless these journals undergo “dramatic” changes, the NIH—the world’s largest funder of health research—would halt submissions to them and create in-house journals to publish government-funded research. “If you get NIH funding, it anoints you as a legitimate scientist,” Kennedy said, suggesting these new journals could become preeminent.
The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from the scientific community. Adam Gaffney, a Harvard Medical School public health researcher, called the move a “deligitimization” of taxpayer-funded research, arguing that forcing scientists to publish only in journals carrying “the RFK Jr. seal of approval” undermines academic freedom. Critics also point to Kennedy’s history of promoting debunked claims, including links between vaccines and autism, raising fears that his policies could stifle open discourse. Carl Bergstrom, an evolutionary biologist, noted that Kennedy’s allies, including NIH director Jay Bhattacharya and FDA chief Marty Makary, have launched their own journal, the Journal of the Academy of Public Health, which critics argue is dominated by a “small clique of contrarians” rather than representing mainstream science.
Kennedy’s remarks come amid broader tensions, including a Department of Justice probe into JAMA and NEJM for alleged partisanship and a $3 billion drop in NIH funding since January, alongside mass layoffs at HHS. His stance appears to conflict with Bhattacharya’s public support for academic freedom, creating uncertainty about implementation.
Supporters, including some X users, argue Kennedy is exposing legitimate issues with journal funding and bias, with one user stating, “He’s holding medical journals accountable for pushing corporate science.” However, others, like @neoavatara, condemned the plan as “totalitarian nonsense” that violates First Amendment protections. Neither HHS, NEJM, nor The Lancet responded to requests for comment, while a JAMA spokesperson declined to add to the discussion.
As Kennedy pushes his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, the scientific community braces for potential disruptions, with some researchers reportedly considering opportunities abroad due to funding cuts and administrative purges. The proposal remains in early stages, but its implications for global health research are profound.
