Health Department Spokesman Resigns Amid Tensions Over Measles Response

WASHINGTON — Thomas Corry, the assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services, abruptly resigned on March 3, 2025, following conflicts with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his team.

Corry, who took the role just weeks prior, announced his immediate resignation in a LinkedIn post, stating, “I want to announce to my friends and colleagues that last Friday I announced my resignation effective immediately. To my colleagues at HHS, I wish you the best and great success.” His unexpected departure has raised questions about internal dynamics within HHS.

Sources familiar with the situation indicated that Corry’s resignation was prompted by increasing disagreements over the management of the department amidst an ongoing measles outbreak in Texas, which has infected at least 146 individuals and resulted in the first measles-related death in the U.S. in over a decade. Corry reportedly expressed unease with Kennedy’s cautious response to the outbreak, which he described as “not unusual” during a Cabinet meeting.

Despite the concerns raised by Corry, Secretary Kennedy later shifted his tone in a Fox News op-ed, emphasizing the importance of vaccination to prevent further outbreaks and stating, “Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons.” This marked a stark departure from his earlier comments.

While HHS did not provide an official comment regarding Corry’s resignation, the tensions between him and Kennedy’s principal deputy chief of staff, Stefanie Spear, reportedly played a significant role in his decision to leave. Sources who requested anonymity cited frustration with how communication within HHS was being handled, as Spear appeared to dominate the agency’s messaging strategies.

Corry previously served in a similar capacity during the Trump administration as a senior adviser and director of communications at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. His swift resignation raises eyebrows about the current administration’s handling of public health leadership amid health crises.

The measles outbreak in Texas has reignited discussions about vaccine hesitancy, particularly considering Kennedy’s past as a vocal critic of vaccines.