Similarly, John Carney, president of the American College of Physicians, said the group was “concerned” while condemning the firing of two doctors from the task force.
“Both physicians are highly qualified experts, and we take issue with the lack of transparency in any review conducted by Secretary Kennedy of task force members,” Carney said. “The dismissal occurs because the task force has not met during the past year and has been prevented from doing its work to ensure that the American public receives the latest guidance based on the best available evidence regarding preventive health care services. USPSTF guidance is vital to a healthy America, and we must not allow its membership or processes to be politicized.”
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The two dismissed members of the USPSTF were Professor John Wong of Tufts University School of Medicine and Professor Isa Davis of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. According to reports, he received a letter from Kennedy on May 11, informing him that he was terminated “with immediate effect.”
As to why he was fired, the letter said: “This action is administrative in nature and not related to your performance or many years of dedicated service to the Task Force. It should not be interpreted as a removal based on your leadership or contributions. On the contrary, the Department is taking this step to help protect the Task Force and maintain confidence in the continuity and sustainability of its work.” It also said termination would “avoid uncertainty that could jeopardize the validity of future task force actions.”
The doctors pushed back after an exchange of emails and a meeting with a Trump administration official, but the rationale for the dismissal remained unclear.
Kennedy had previously condemned the USPSTF, calling it too “woke” and “indifferent and careless for 20 years.” He had earlier also revealed plans to oust the panel.
Doctors are now demanding action to protect the task force. Michael Silverstein, former USPSTF chair, told The New York Times, “The administration came after vaccinating children, and now it’s coming after our mammograms and our other cancer screenings, and the medical community can’t let that happen.”
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