A National Institutes of Health scientist is retiring after 21 years on the job, blaming changes made under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kevin Hall, who specialized in nutrition and metabolism for the institute, is the latest to leave the department since Kennedy laid off large swaths of employees. While most layoffs were done in the name of cost savings, Hall is alleging that changes to the agency “made me question whether NIH continues to be a place where I can freely conduct unbiased science.”
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“My life’s work has been to scientifically study how our food environment affects what we eat, and how what we eat affects our physiology,” Hall explained on a BlueSky post. “Specifically, I experienced censorship in the reporting of our research because of agency concerns that it did not appear to fully support preconceived narratives of my agency’s leadership about ultra-processed food addiction.”
After 21 years at my dream job, I’m very sad to announce my early retirement from the National Institutes of Health. My life’s work has been to scientifically study how our food environment affects what we eat, and how what we eat affects our physiology.
— Kevin Hall (@kevinh-phd.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM
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Specifically, I experienced censorship in the reporting of our research because of agency concerns that it did not appear to fully support preconceived narratives of my agency’s leadership about ultra-processed food addiction.
— Kevin Hall (@kevinh-phd.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Hall opted into the department’s early retirement package in order to keep health insurance coverage for himself and his family. He admitted that the “new agency leadership professing to prioritize scientific investigation of ultra-processed foods” initially excited him, but he now hopes to return to government service “someday.”
The Washington Examiner reached NIH for comment.
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Earlier this month, several senior leaders across HHS were put on leave, including the top scientist at the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, who replaced Dr. Anthony Fauci upon his retirement in 2023. Instead, Marrazzo, Fauci’s wife, Dr. Christine Grady of the NIH Office of Bioethics, and Fauci’s close associate, Dr. Clifford Lane, were each offered Indian Health Service positions.
This early retirement package follows HHS’s goal to terminate about 10,000 people from their jobs, which is about 25% of the workforce. The layoffs were meant to target HR, IT, and finance positions that fell under a violation of President Donald Trump’s executive order on collective bargaining.