Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Department of Health and Human Services secretary who promised “radical transparency” shortly after his Senate confirmation, 10 days later announced that he was ending a 54-year-old department transparency commitment. On Friday morning, Feb. 28, Kennedy filed a bureaucratic notice headlined as, “Policy on Adhering to the Text of the Administrative Procedure Act.” The notice was first reported by Isabella Cueto at Stat News. As the notice summarizes the action: SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services’ (the Department) Immediate Office of the Secretary is rescinding the policy on Public Participation in Rule Making (Richardson Waiver) and re-aligning the Department’s rule-making procedures with the Administrative Procedure Act. The Administrative Procedure Act — which sets forth the procedures for agency rulemaking, including notice and comment — exempts regulations relating to “public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts” from notice and comment. Learn more.
