Vaccine Director Quits, Cites RFK Jr. Misinformation/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA’s top vaccine official, has resigned in protest, accusing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of promoting misinformation and undermining public trust in vaccines. The resignation follows broader turmoil at the agency amid layoffs and mounting public health concerns.
FDA’s Top Vaccine Official Resigns, Citing RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Misinformation Quick Looks
- Dr. Peter Marks to step down April 5 as FDA vaccine director
- Resignation letter criticizes RFK Jr. for spreading vaccine “misinformation and lies”
- Marks led COVID vaccine review and coined “Operation Warp Speed”
- HHS has not commented on the resignation or related claims
- RFK Jr. previously vowed not to alter vaccine policy
- Critics say Marks’ departure weakens scientific leadership at FDA
- Former FDA leaders warn of politicized health decisions
- HHS faces mass layoffs, office closures under new directives
- Resignation follows growing measles outbreak amid vaccine distrust
- Marks warns of “assault on scientific truth” hurting public health
Vaccine Director Quits, Cites RFK Jr. Misinformation
Deep Look
FDA Vaccine Director Resigns, Citing RFK Jr.’s Push for Misinformation and Vaccine Doubts
WASHINGTON — Dr. Peter Marks, one of the nation’s top vaccine regulators and director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, announced his resignation Friday, directly blaming Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for enabling dangerous misinformation about vaccine safety.
In a sharply worded letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner, Marks said he will officially step down on April 5, ending a career that included leading the FDA’s vaccine division through the COVID-19 pandemic and spearheading the rapid rollout of vaccines under “Operation Warp Speed.”
“It has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the Secretary,” Marks wrote. “He wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies.”
Marks Faced Pressure to Resign or Be Fired
According to a former FDA official familiar with internal discussions, Marks was effectively given an ultimatum: resign or be terminated. The official, who requested anonymity, said the decision stemmed from growing tension with Kennedy over vaccine policy.
RFK Jr., a long-time vaccine skeptic with a history of promoting debunked claims, had previously assured Congress during his confirmation hearings that he would not alter federal vaccine recommendations. But since taking office, he has signaled plans to reexamine childhood vaccine safety, despite overwhelming scientific consensus on their efficacy.
“RFK Jr.’s firing of Peter Marks… now allows the fox to guard the hen house,” said Dr. Paul Offit, a leading vaccine expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “It’s a sad day for America’s children.”
A Legacy of Vaccine Leadership
Marks is widely credited with guiding the FDA through one of the most critical phases in modern public health history. He played a pivotal role in expediting COVID-19 vaccine development and approvals while upholding safety standards. He is also credited with coining the term “Operation Warp Speed,” the Trump-era initiative that accelerated vaccine manufacturing while clinical trials were still underway.
Despite the program’s success, Trump often criticized the FDA for not moving fast enough — expressing frustration that a vaccine was not authorized before the 2020 election.
Scientific Integrity Under Fire
In his resignation letter, Marks raised alarms about the erosion of trust in science and the politicization of public health. He warned of the consequences of promoting doubt in well-established medical practices — particularly amid an ongoing measles outbreak in multiple states.
“The ongoing multistate measles outbreak… reminds us of what happens when confidence in well-established science is undermined,” Marks wrote.
The current outbreak has already affected over 370 people in Texas and New Mexico and has now spread to Kansas and Ohio. Health experts fear it may jeopardize the U.S.’s measles elimination status.
Marks also referenced troubling “efforts currently being advanced” by unnamed individuals promoting misinformation about vaccine side effects — further evidence, he argued, of a growing “assault on scientific truth.”
Broader Turmoil Inside HHS
Marks’ resignation adds to the growing instability at the Department of Health and Human Services, which is undergoing sweeping restructuring under RFK Jr.’s leadership. On Friday, the agency confirmed plans to lay off more than 10,000 workers and shutter several health agencies — including some that oversee addiction recovery and community health centers.
Kennedy has openly criticized HHS as a “sprawling bureaucracy” and blamed its employees for what he calls a nationwide decline in health outcomes. His remarks have stoked fears among public health experts that science-based policymaking is being sidelined in favor of political ideology.
Last month, FDA Foods Deputy Commissioner Jim Jones also resigned, citing the “indiscriminate firing” of nearly 90 staffers in his division. Meanwhile, returning employees have reported chaos, with offices missing desks, equipment, and proper workspaces due to abrupt restructuring.
Fallout and Warnings from the Scientific Community
Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf called Marks’ departure “frightening” for anyone who values evidence-based policy.
“I hope this will intensify communication across academia, industry, and government to bolster the importance of science,” he said.
As Kennedy continues to reshape the agency, public health leaders are warning that the exit of experienced scientists like Marks could leave a dangerous void in regulatory oversight — especially at a time when vaccine hesitancy continues to rise and outbreaks threaten national health.
Marks did not respond to media requests for comment.
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