U.S. Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill is preparing to leave his post as part of a larger reorganization of leadership at the department, according to a report published on Friday. The report said the personnel changes include the departure of O’Neill, who currently also serves as the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is identified as the top aide to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Sources cited by the report included two HHS officials and a person familiar with the personnel decision, who provided the details of the planned moves. In addition to O’Neill, the department’s top lawyer, HHS General Counsel Mike Stuart, is reported to be stepping down from his present role.
The report states that both O’Neill and Stuart will be offered new positions within the Trump administration. It remains unclear whether those potential new roles will be situated inside HHS or located at other federal agencies. The report did not provide further specifics on timelines, titles, or the scope of the new positions.
The personnel announcements were described as part of a broader reorganization of leadership within the health department. Beyond the named departures and the note about forthcoming offers within the administration, the report did not detail additional planned changes or the mechanics of the reorganization.
Observers will be watching for formal announcements or confirmations from HHS regarding the status of O’Neill and Stuart, and whether the reported offers for new assignments are accepted and finalized. Until such confirmations are issued by the department or by the individuals involved, the information rests on the report and the sources it cited.
Summary
Two senior HHS officials - Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill and General Counsel Mike Stuart - are reported to be leaving their current posts amid a departmental leadership reorganization. Both are reportedly to be offered alternative positions within the Trump administration, with details and placements not yet disclosed.
Key points
- Jim O’Neill, U.S. HHS Deputy Secretary and Acting CDC Director, is set to depart as part of a leadership reorganization.
- HHS General Counsel Mike Stuart is also reported to be leaving his role.
- Both officials are reportedly to be offered new positions within the Trump administration; it is not yet known whether those positions will remain inside HHS or be at other agencies.
Risks and uncertainties
- Details on the timing and nature of the new roles for O’Neill and Stuart have not been disclosed, leaving uncertainty about succession and continuity within HHS.
- The scope and structure of the broader reorganization of department leadership were not specified, so the full extent of personnel changes remains unclear.
- Information available is based on a report citing internal officials and a person familiar with the decision, and formal confirmation from HHS or the individuals named has not been provided.