Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has escalated his stance against leading medical journals, threatening to ban government-funded scientists from publishing in them. He accuses top publications of bias due to pharmaceutical ties and advocates for creating independent journals. The move has stirred debate on academic freedom and the influence of industry in medical research.
RFK Jr. Challenges Medical Publishing Establishment
A Direct Warning to Prestigious Journals
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated during a podcast interview on May 27, 2025, that he may prohibit NIH scientists from publishing research in three of the world’s most respected medical journals: The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, and The Lancet. He accused these journals of being “corrupt” due to their close financial ties with pharmaceutical companies.
Proposal for In-House Scientific Journals
Building Independent Research Platforms
Kennedy announced that unless those journals significantly change their editorial policies, the government would create its own in-house medical journals. This initiative would be spearheaded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which he argues should have a publication outlet free from commercial and pharmaceutical influence.
Context: A Report on Chronic Illness in Children
Kennedy’s Broader Critique of the Medical System
This statement follows the release of a White House-backed report led by Kennedy, which linked chronic illnesses in children to overprescription of medications. The report criticizes the influence of drug companies and suggests a “culture of fear” has suppressed independent scientific inquiry into alternative causes of disease.
Internal Conflict Within HHS Leadership
NIH Director Expresses Support for Academic Freedom
Kennedy’s position is not universally accepted within his own department. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya emphasized academic independence, stating that researchers must be free to submit their work wherever they choose, even when leadership disagrees. This highlights a divide within the federal health leadership on how to reform medical publishing.
Kennedy References Longstanding Criticism
Historical Skepticism Toward Medical Publishing Practices
Kennedy cited earlier statements by prominent figures like Marcia Angell (former NEJM editor) and Richard Horton (The Lancet editor) who previously criticized the reliability of industry-funded research. He also condemned Horton’s handling of COVID-era publications, including a now-retracted study on hydroxychloroquine.
Controversies Around The Lancet and EcoHealth Alliance
COVID Origins and Research Ethics Scrutinized
Kennedy referenced The Lancet’s publication of a 2020 letter that dismissed the lab-leak theory of COVID-19’s origin as a conspiracy. That letter was co-signed by Peter Daszak, whose group EcoHealth Alliance was later barred from U.S. funding. President Donald Trump’s administration maintains that the organization facilitated risky research in Wuhan.
Limited Response from Targeted Journals
Silence from Major Players in Scientific Publishing
As of publication, JAMA declined to comment on Kennedy’s remarks, while NEJM and The Lancet did not respond to requests. The Department of Health and Human Services also has not issued an official statement.
New Independent Journal Launched by HHS Officials
A Platform for Open Scientific Debate
In response to concerns about traditional publishing channels, NIH Director Bhattacharya and FDA Chief Marty Makary have launched the Journal of the Academy of Public Health, designed to foster open and independent scientific discussion. Both officials are currently on editorial leave.
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