Former Vaccine Official Sues Trump Administration Over Firing

A former top official at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging illegal firing by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after she raised concerns about vaccine research.

Marrazzo, who led the NIH division responsible for vaccine research until March 2023, claims she was placed on indefinite leave and subsequently terminated in October due to retaliation for her whistleblower actions.

In her formal complaint, Marrazzo contends that her termination followed her public statements regarding internal conflicts over the significance of childhood flu vaccines and the cancellation of clinical trials, which she argues have jeopardized public health and wasted billions of dollars.

Marrazzo's lawsuit highlights troubling comments made by Dr. Matthew Memoli, who allegedly downplayed vaccine importance in alignment with Kennedy's views, stating that vaccines are unnecessary if populations are healthy.

Amidst these claims, an HHS spokesperson defended Memoli and asserted that he supports the administration's vaccine priorities. Following her firing, Marrazzo expressed her intention to seek her job back while protecting the rights of federal whistleblowers, emphasizing the erosion of agency independence under the Trump administration.

Marrazzo's lawsuit follows her earlier complaint filed with the Office of Special Counsel, citing concerns that her claims could not be fairly investigated due to perceived biases in federal whistleblower processes.

These developments raise significant questions about vaccine policy and governance during her tenure at the NIH.