Biotechnology Trade Group Allegedly Allocates $2 Million to Counter HHS Secretary Kennedy

A leaked internal memo, purportedly from the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), reveals a strategic effort to counter U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., including a reported allocation of $2 million. The document, dated April 3, 2025, and titled "BIO Vaccine Policy Steering Committee," outlines concerns over Kennedy's influence and discusses lobbying efforts to remove him from office. The memo suggests BIO, a trade association whose members include major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Merck, views Kennedy as a significant threat to regulatory predictability within the health sector.

The alleged memo details a plan to "go to The Hill and lobby that it is time for RFK Jr. to go," according to the tweet that brought the document to light. This campaign reportedly commits $2 million—half of BIO’s cash reserves—to a vaccine communications initiative named "Why We Vaccinate." The strategy aims to influence public sentiment and legislative behavior through "inspire and frighten" tactics, targeting the "movable middle" with emotionally charged messaging tied to national security and economic productivity.

BIO, however, has denied the authenticity of the purported memo. A spokesperson for the organization stated that they "have never seen or heard of this document and it certainly does not accurately represent the spirit, strategy, or mission of BIO’s work." Despite this denial, several news outlets have reported on the memo's contents, noting its detailed discussion of concerns regarding Kennedy's stance on vaccines and his "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) reform platform.

Secretary Kennedy, a long-standing critic of vaccine policies, assumed the HHS role in February 2025, a move that drew significant controversy due to his history of vaccine skepticism. His MAHA agenda seeks to reform health policy, with a focus on chronic diseases and questioning the efficacy of certain medical interventions. Reports indicate that Kennedy's own MAHA report has faced scrutiny for citing nonexistent studies, adding to the contentious environment surrounding his tenure.

The leaked document further suggests a multi-pronged campaign to deploy surrogates and co-opt conservative influencers, including figures like Dr. Mehmet Oz, former Senator Richard Burr, and Senator Bill Cassidy, to provide a "veneer of bipartisan legitimacy" to BIO’s efforts. This approach, as described in the memo, seeks to neutralize Kennedy's impact without directly engaging with his policy critiques, focusing instead on influencing public and political perception.