Additional Coverage:
A prominent NIH scientist has made a sudden exit, citing censorship under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s leadership. After 21 years with the agency, senior investigator Kevin Hall announced his early retirement on social media, expressing his disappointment.
Hall, whose research focuses on the impact of ultra-processed foods on chronic diseases, claimed his work was censored due to agency concerns that it didn’t align with leadership’s preconceived notions. He alleges he contacted agency leadership about his concerns but received no response.
This news comes just days after reports surfaced of Kennedy telling FDA employees that the “Deep State is real,” and that institutional pressures influence agencies. He reportedly also referred to the FDA as a “sock puppet” of the industries it regulates, a claim he extended to other agencies as well.
The NIH has not yet responded to requests for comment.