Jim O’Neill

Stories

Reshaping federal health leadership

As of May 2026: Departed HHS; nominated to lead National Science Foundation

Jay Bhattacharya co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration in October 2020, publicly opposing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's pandemic response policies. Five years later, he now controls both the CDC and the National Institutes of Health—the two largest federal public health agencies—making him the most powerful health official in America outside the cabinet.

Updated May 29

Minnesota's billion-dollar welfare fraud crisis

Force in Play

As of May 2026: Leading federal response to Minnesota fraud allegations

On January 5, 2026, Governor Tim Walz announced he would drop his bid for a third term. The reversal came just two days before a contentious January 7 House Oversight Committee hearing where Republican state lawmakers testified that Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison ignored widespread fraud and silenced whistleblowers.

Updated May 21

US hepatitis B birth-dose policy upended by new vaccine advisory panel

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Formally adopted ACIP’s hepatitis B recommendation into CDC schedule on Dec 16, 2025

In December 2025, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted 8–3 to end the universal recommendation for hepatitis B vaccination within 24 hours of birth. The committee was reconstituted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. On December 16, 2025, Acting CDC Director Jim O'Neill formally adopted the recommendation.

Updated May 10

Trump and RFK Jr. launch overhaul of U.S. childhood vaccine schedule

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Tasked with implementing vaccine schedule changes at CDC

In his second term, President Donald Trump is overhauling U.S. childhood vaccination policy. He argues the country gives too many shots compared with its peers. On December 5, 2025, a federal vaccine advisory panel voted 8–3 to end the longstanding hepatitis B shot recommendation for newborns. Trump signed a memorandum ordering the HHS secretary and CDC director to review the childhood schedule and align it where possible with peer countries' practices.

Updated May 10

ACIP moves to end universal hepatitis B shots at birth

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Ratified ACIP’s revised hepatitis B recommendations, formally shifting CDC policy from universal to individualized newborn vaccination

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 8–3 on December 5, 2025 to end the recommendation that every U.S. newborn receive a hepatitis B shot within 24 hours of birth. The committee had been recently overhauled under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; acting CDC Director Jim O'Neill ratified the change on December 16, 2025.

Updated May 9

Notable Quotes

"We will not tolerate blatant fraud that appears to be rampant in Minnesota and across the country. States must provide a justification and a receipt or photo evidence before we send money."

from Minnesota's billion-dollar welfare fraud crisis · Updated May 21

“The American people have benefited from the committee’s well-informed, rigorous discussion about the appropriateness of a vaccination in the first few hours of life,” O’Neill said after the vote.

from US hepatitis B birth-dose policy upended by new vaccine advisory panel · Updated May 10

“This recommendation reflects ACIP's rigorous review of the available evidence... We are restoring the balance of informed consent to parents whose newborns face little risk of contracting hepatitis B” [2].

from US hepatitis B birth-dose policy upended by new vaccine advisory panel · Updated May 10

Upon updating the schedule to emphasize individual-based decision-making for COVID-19, O’Neill declared, “Informed consent is back,” signaling a broader shift away from blanket recommendations.

from Trump and RFK Jr. launch overhaul of U.S. childhood vaccine schedule · Updated May 10

"The American people have benefited from the committee’s well-informed, rigorous discussion about the appropriateness of a vaccination in the first few hours of life."

from ACIP moves to end universal hepatitis B shots at birth · Updated May 9