In a stunning rebuke of the scientific establishment, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has threatened to prohibit government-funded scientists from publishing their research in three of the world’s leading medical journals, accusing them of being “deeply corrupt” and beholden to Big Pharma interests.
Kennedy made the explosive comments during a Monday episode of the popular podcast “Voices for Truth,” where he blasted The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, and JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), alleging that their editorial decisions are driven not by science but by pharmaceutical profits.
“These journals are no longer scientific institutions,” Kennedy said. “They are marketing arms for the drug industry. I will not allow taxpayer-funded scientists to lend legitimacy to publications that have repeatedly misled the public and suppressed dissenting views.”
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The remarks have triggered immediate backlash from public health experts and researchers, who warn that such a move could cripple global collaboration and damage the credibility of American science on the world stage.
Dr. Monica Zhang, a leading infectious disease researcher at NIH, expressed concern over what she called “a dangerous politicization of science.”
“Cutting off access to high-impact journals means isolating our best scientists and silencing vital discoveries,” Zhang said. “It’s unprecedented and potentially devastating.”
Kennedy’s criticism centers on the journals’ historical support for pharmaceutical research, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has long been a controversial figure in medical circles, known for his skepticism of vaccines and pharmaceutical lobbying power. However, as HHS Secretary, his influence now carries real policy weight and the scientific community is on edge.
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According to internal HHS sources, discussions are already underway to explore alternative publishing platforms that Kennedy deems “free from pharmaceutical manipulation.” Critics argue this could pave the way for partisan, unvetted science to gain official endorsement.
The editorial boards of The Lancet, NEJM, and JAMA have not issued official responses, though several prominent editors have anonymously condemned the statement as “authoritarian” and “anti-science.”
White House Press Secretary Dana Whitman declined to directly address Kennedy’s comments but said President Biden remains committed to “preserving scientific integrity and ensuring that American research continues to lead the world.”
As Kennedy doubles down on his crusade against what he calls “corporate science,” questions loom over the future of U.S. scientific policy and whether this marks a turning point in the relationship between government and academic publishing.
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