The assistant secretary of public affairs at Health and Human Services (HHS), Thomas Corry, abruptly resigned after only two weeks on the job, citing disagreements with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding the ongoing measles outbreak in Texas. Corry announced his resignation Monday, expressing unease with Kennedy’s handling of the crisis. His sudden departure has left the department without a key communications leader at a critical time.
Corry’s resignation follows mounting tension within HHS over the agency’s response to the measles outbreak, which Texas health officials have called one of the worst in decades. Since late January, 146 infections have been reported, including the nation’s first measles-related death in 10 years. In his LinkedIn post, Corry revealed his decision to leave was immediate, stating, “To my colleagues at HHS, I wish you the best and great success.” He did not elaborate further on the specifics of his disagreements with Kennedy.
Just days before his departure, Corry had shared a photo of Kennedy meeting with the HHS team, praising the secretary’s commitment to improving Americans’ health. However, this optimism quickly faded as the outbreak worsened and Kennedy’s response drew criticism. Initially, Kennedy downplayed the severity of the outbreak, calling it “not unusual.” But, over the weekend, he shifted his stance dramatically. In a Fox News opinion piece, Kennedy urged the public to vaccinate, emphasizing the critical role of vaccines in preventing disease and protecting community health.
This shift in messaging marked a stark departure from Kennedy’s controversial history of promoting vaccine skepticism. His editorial stated, “Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons.” The secretary’s change of tone has raised questions about his ability to lead during public health crises and has likely fueled internal discord within HHS.
The resignation has left HHS scrambling to manage its public response amid the outbreak. With no word yet on Corry’s replacement, the department faces challenges in maintaining consistent messaging, a task made even more critical as the outbreak continues to spread. Public health experts have warned that delayed or inconsistent communication could exacerbate the crisis, potentially leading to more preventable illnesses and deaths.
This unfolding situation highlights broader concerns about the effectiveness of federal health leadership under President Donald Trump’s administration. Critics argue that the administration has struggled to provide clear guidance during public health emergencies. Meanwhile, supporters contend that challenges such as these require time to resolve, especially when they involve divisive issues like vaccination.
As the outbreak persists, all eyes remain on Kennedy and the HHS team to see how they will address the growing crisis and restore public confidence. Will this leadership shake-up bring about necessary changes, or will it deepen the challenges faced by the department? Only time will tell.
What do you think about the resignation and HHS’s handling of the outbreak? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
