Mon Mar 03 12:40:00 UTC 2025: ## HHS Rolls Back Public Comment Requirement, Sparking Transparency Concerns
**Washington, D.C.** – The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has eliminated a decades-old requirement for public notice and comment on a broad range of agency decisions, a move criticized by open government advocates as a step towards increased secrecy.
The rescinded requirement, known as the Richardson Waiver, dated back to 1971 and mandated additional public input beyond that already stipulated by the Administrative Procedures Act. Incoming HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. justified the reversal, stating in a Federal Register notice that the waiver imposed unnecessary costs and hindered the department’s agility.
However, the decision has drawn sharp rebuke. Experts like Lawrence Gostin, the O’Neill Chair of Global Health Law at Georgetown University, argue the change will allow HHS to make crucial public health decisions behind closed doors, silencing the voices of researchers, health advocates, and other key stakeholders. This directly contradicts Kennedy’s pledge of “radical transparency” made during his Senate confirmation hearings.
The elimination of the Richardson Waiver raises concerns about the potential for decreased accountability and public oversight within the Department of Health and Human Services. The long-term implications of this decision on public health policy and agency transparency remain to be seen.
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