A coup in health policy? How pharma giants are pushing to dislodge Kennedy from HHS

• Pharma trade group BIO plans to spend $2 million to pressure RFK Jr. out of office by September.
• A leaked memo reveals strategies to co-opt conservative influencers and flood media with pro-vaccine messaging.
• BIO aims to sideline RFK Jr.’s reforms by mid-September, when Congress returns and schools reopen.
• Senator Bernie Sanders demands RFK Jr.’s resignation, accusing him of endangering public health.
• Kennedy’s policies challenge industry profit models and regulatory shortcuts, prompting a coordinated backlash from Big Pharma.

In a stunning development, a secret memo from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) has surfaced, revealing a multi-million dollar campaign to oust U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., by September 2025. The internal document, leaked by whistleblowers, outlines a sweeping strategy to neutralize Kennedy’s leadership and challenge his regulatory reforms. BIO, which represents major pharmaceutical firms like Pfizer, Merck and Vaxcyte, is spending half of its cash reserve—$2 million—on a coordinated effort to undermine Kennedy’s Health and Human Services (HHS) agenda.

A timed attack: The why and when

The memo, initially uncovered by whistleblower Dr. Robert Malone, indicates that BIO’s efforts are accelerating as Congress prepares to reconvene in September. The trade group’s strategy hinges on capitalizing on the narrative momentum leading into the new school year and the political cycle that follows. BIO’s internal briefing suggests that September is critical for several reasons:

1. Congress returns, focusing on vaccine policy and public health budgets.
2. Schools reopen, heightening public attention to health mandates.
3. Election cycles intensify, offering a window to discredit Kennedy before he gains more traction.

The memo was compiled on April 3, 2025, during a closed-door meeting of BIO’s Vaccine Policy Steering Committee. The timing signals a race against the clock to reshape the political and public discourse before the administration can fully implement its reforms.

Co-opting conservative voices: The who and what

Central to BIO’s campaign is a strategy to co-opt conservative influencers who can provide a veneer of bipartisan support. Figures like Dr. Mehmet Oz and Senator Bill Cassidy are identified as potential surrogates, with BIO planning to leverage their perceived credibility to counter Kennedy’s regulatory scrutiny. Additionally, the memo proposes influencing staff and researchers at institutions like the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), known for its conservative leaning, to normalize pro-BIO positions and silence dissent.

BIO has allocated $2 million toward a D.C.-area pilot campaign called “Why We Vaccinate,” aimed at manipulating public sentiment by combining “inspire” and “frighten” tactics. This campaign seeks to galvanize the “movable middle” using emotionally charged messages linked to national security and economic productivity.

A war of words: Rhetorical warfare and narrative control

Beyond lobbying and surrogate messaging, BIO’s strategy includes a linguistic overhaul. Rather than “protect” or “defend,” BIO plans to replace regulatory terminology with terms like “streamline,” “optimize,” and “enhance.” These reframed words signal a shift in goals—from rigorous transparency and safety measures to more permissive standards that prioritize industry ease and corporate profit. For BIO, the group’s emphasis on rhetoric over substance underscores a broader tactic to align regulatory policies with pharma-friendly narratives, ensuring that little to no structural reform ever occurs.

Political backlash: The big picture

Senator Bernie Sanders has joined the growing chorus of calls for RFK Jr.’s resignation, arguing that his policies are endangering public health. Sanders points to Kennedy’s alleged attacks on vaccines, noting that vaccines are recognized by the medical community as safe and effective. Kennedy’s ascension to HHS has drawn criticism from medical experts and policymakers alike, who fear his reforms could hamper lifesaving advancements.
The leaked memo, alongside Sanders’ editorial, sheds light on a broader tension: the conflict between corporate interests and public health. While BIO seeks to preserve regulatory shortcuts and protect its profit margins, Kennedy’s reforms challenge outdated practices and prioritize rigorous oversight and transparency.

A crucial moment for regulatory integrity

The leaked memo from BIO offers a rare glimpse into the underpinnings of a covert campaign aimed at dismantling RFK Jr.’s vision for health policy. As the document underscores, this is not just a health policy debate but an issue of democratic integrity. Public scrutiny of BIO’s actions and transparency in government policy are essential to ensuring that regulatory decisions are based on science, safety and the public interest, rather than corporate influence. The battle lines are drawn, and what’s at stake is nothing less than the future of American public health.

Sources for this article include:

X.com

Malone.Substack.com

Truthout.org