RFK Jr. halts Biden-era COVID-19 vaccine contract: A bold move toward fiscal responsibility and public health accountability

• Pause on Vaxart Contract: Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has issued a 90-day stop-work order on a $460 million COVID-19 vaccine contract with Vaxart Inc., halting large-scale clinical trials involving 10,000 participants.
• This decision reflects a shift from the Biden administration’s aggressive pandemic spending and vaccine mandates to a more fiscally responsible, transparent and measured approach to vaccine development under the Trump administration.
• The Vaxart contract was part of the Biden administration’s $4.7 billion Project Next Gen initiative. Vaxart had already received $240 million in funding for preliminary studies and was set to receive an additional $230 million.
• Kennedy’s pause on the contract is aligned with the administration’s broader health policy, including the creation of the Make America Healthy Again Commission, which will investigate the root causes of chronic health issues like childhood autism.
• The move symbolizes a return to accountability and a balanced approach to public health, addressing concerns about fiscal responsibility and individual freedoms while ensuring the scientific rigor and safety of vaccine development.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has paused a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 vaccine contract initiated under the Biden administration. The 90-day stop-work order, issued on February 25, 2025, halts a $460 million agreement with biotech firm Vaxart Inc., which was set to begin large-scale clinical trials involving 10,000 participants.

This decision marks a stark departure from the Biden administration’s aggressive pandemic-era spending and vaccine mandates, reflecting the Trump administration’s renewed focus on fiscal responsibility, public health transparency and a more measured approach to vaccine development.

The contract in question: A $460 million gamble

The Vaxart contract was part of the Biden administration’s $4.7 billion Project Next Gen initiative, launched in 2023 to accelerate the development of next?generation COVID?19 vaccines. Vaxart’s oral vaccine, a novel approach to immunization, had already received $240 million in funding for preliminary studies. A recent contract modification would have allowed the company to invoice the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for an additional $230 million to begin large-scale trials.

However, Secretary Kennedy’s stop-work order prevents Vaxart from invoicing BARDA for the remaining funds until further review. Notably, the company can still bill HHS for medical monitoring of participants from earlier trial phases, ensuring that existing commitments are honored.

Kennedy’s decision underscores a broader skepticism of the Biden administration’s pandemic spending, which critics argue prioritized speed over accountability. “While it is crucial that the Department of Health and Human Services support pandemic preparedness, four years of the Biden administration’s failed oversight have made it necessary to review agreements for vaccine production, including Vaxart’s,” Kennedy told Fox News. “I look forward to working with Vaxart and medical experts to ensure this work produces safe, effective and fiscal-minded vaccine technology.”

A new era of health policy under Trump and Kennedy

Kennedy’s pause on the Vaxart contract comes just two weeks after his confirmation as HHS Secretary under President Donald Trump. The move aligns with the administration’s broader health policy agenda, which includes the creation of the Make America Healthy Again Commission. Led by Kennedy, the commission aims to investigate the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis, with an initial focus on chronic childhood diseases like autism.

This initiative represents a stark contrast to the Biden administration’s top-down, mandate-driven approach to public health. Under Biden, COVID-19 vaccines were mandated across the federal government, and many private-sector employers followed suit, leading to widespread backlash and protests. In contrast, Trump has already signed executive orders reinstating military personnel discharged for refusing the vaccine and prohibiting federal funding for vaccine mandates in schools.

Kennedy’s leadership at HHS also reflects his long-standing advocacy for natural health and vaccine safety. During his Senate confirmation hearings, he addressed accusations of being “anti-vaccine,” stating, “I worked for years to raise awareness about the mercury and toxic chemicals in fish. And nobody called me anti-fish. I believe that vaccines play a critical role in healthcare. All of my kids are vaccinated.”

Why this matters: A return to accountability

The pause on the Vaxart contract is more than a bureaucratic delay — it’s a symbolic rejection of the Biden administration’s pandemic-era policies, which critics argue prioritized corporate interests and government overreach over individual freedom and fiscal responsibility.

Historically, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep fissures in America’s public health infrastructure, from the rushed approval of vaccines to the controversial mandates that followed. Kennedy’s decision to scrutinize the Vaxart contract reflects a commitment to ensuring that future vaccine development is both scientifically rigorous and financially prudent.

Moreover, this move signals a broader shift in how the federal government approaches public health. By prioritizing transparency, accountability and a focus on chronic health issues, the Trump-Kennedy partnership aims to address the root causes of America’s health crisis rather than simply reacting to emergencies.

Looking ahead: What’s next for Vaxart and vaccine policy?

Over the next 90 days, Kennedy and his team will review the initial findings from Vaxart’s earlier trials to determine whether the oral vaccine warrants further investment. This pause provides an opportunity to reassess not only the scientific merits of the vaccine but also the fiscal implications of continuing the contract.

For Vaxart, the stop-work order is a setback but not a death knell. The company can still invoice HHS for medical monitoring of earlier trial participants, and the contract could be reinstated if Kennedy and his team are satisfied with the results of their review.

For the American public, this decision represents a hopeful step toward a more balanced and accountable approach to public health. By prioritizing safety, efficacy and fiscal responsibility, the Trump administration is charting a new course—one that respects individual freedoms while addressing the nation’s most pressing health challenges.

As Kennedy himself put it, “I look forward to working with Vaxart and medical experts to ensure this work produces safe, effective and fiscal-minded vaccine technology.” In a time of unprecedented health challenges, such an approach is not just prudent—it’s essential.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

FoxNews.com