Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is going to remove members of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). 

This is according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal. 

ABC7 reports that this task force "recommends which preventive health services, such as cancer screenings, must be covered by insurance.

There are 16 individuals currently on the task force, which means that there may soon be 16 individuals in need of a new job.

The details:

According to the Journal, Kennedy is looking to remove these individuals because, in his view, they are too "woke."

The Journal reports:

Kennedy plans to dismiss all 16 panel members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force because he views them as too “woke,” the people said.

The White House has made a priority of targeting initiatives that promote diversity equity and inclusion, or DEI, in everything from artificial intelligence to health research grants.

The publication goes on to report on a recent essay that may have galvanized Kennedy's decision.

It writes:

A recent essay in The American Conservative magazine called for the removal of the task-force members, arguing that it had embedded “left-wing ideological orthodoxy” in all of its efforts. The essay pointed to the task force highlighting racial discrimination when discussing risk factors for anxiety in older children and teenagers, as well as the task force’s use of terms such as “pregnant persons.” The task force mentioned the “lasting psychological impact and stigma of enslaved Black women being forced to act as wet nurses” in an April publication on breast-feeding, the essay noted.

There are some who are attempting to push back on the move.

"We urge you..."

Among those pushing back against the removal effort is the American Medical Association (AMA).

It has released a statement in which is urges Kennedy "to retain the previously appointed members... and commit to the long-standing process of regular meetings."

The association, in part, writes:

. . . I am writing to express our deep concern with the recent reports of your intention to remove all of the members of the United States Preventive Services Task Force . . . As you know, USPSTF plays a critical, non-partisan role in guiding physicians' efforts to rpevent disease and improve the health of patients by helpin gto ensure access to evidence-based clinical preventive services. As such, we urge you to retain the previously appointed members of the USPSTF and commit to the long-standing process of regular meetings to ensure their important work can continue without interruption.

Kennedy, at the time of this writing, has not released a public statement on the matter.

AMA implores HHS Sec RFK to keep Preventive Services Task Force: “USPSTF plays a critical, non-partisan role in guiding physicians’ efforts to prevent disease.. we urge you to retain the previously appointed members.. and commit to the long-standing process of regular meetings." pic.twitter.com/mBw3vdhUci

— Bertha Coombs (@berthacoombs) July 27, 2025