HHS pauses $240 million Biden-era project to create new COVID vax
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has put a halt on a multimillion-dollar contract from the Biden era aimed at creating a new COVID-19 vaccine, Fox News Digital has reported. Kennedy stated that after four years of what he described as failed oversight during the Biden administration, it was necessary to review agreements for vaccine production, including the one with Vaxart Inc.
Kennedy emphasized the importance of supporting pandemic preparedness while ensuring that any vaccine technology developed is safe, effective, and fiscally responsible. He issued a 90-day stop work order on Friday in relation to the contract with Vaxart Inc., a biotech company working on an orally administered COVID-19 vaccine. The pause comes as the company was set to begin clinical trials with 10,000 participants on Monday.
The trial has been paused, not terminated, with Kennedy and other health officials planning to review the initial findings over the next 90 days before deciding on the next steps. The creation of a new COVID-19 vaccine was part of the Biden administration’s Project NextGen initiative, a $4.7 billion effort launched in 2023 to expedite the development of vaccines. The Vaxart vaccine specifically received funding through an agreement with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a division within the Department of Health and Human Services.
BARDA had committed approximately $460 million to Vaxart’s vaccine development, with $240 million already allocated for the initial study. A recent contract modification would have allowed Vaxart to invoice BARDA for the remaining $230 million for clinical trials, but the stop work order prevents this until further notice. However, Vaxart can still invoice HHS for medical monitoring of trial participants.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed as the 26th Secretary of Health and Human Services less than two weeks ago. On the same day, President Donald Trump established the Make America Healthy Again Commission, led by Kennedy, to address the root causes of the country’s health crisis. The commission will initially focus on investigating childhood chronic diseases like autism.
Kennedy, who has faced criticism for his alleged anti-vaccine stance, has repeatedly denied such claims, including during his Senate confirmation hearings in 2025. He emphasized his belief in the critical role vaccines play in healthcare and clarified that he is not against vaccines. The Biden administration had mandated COVID-19 vaccines across the federal government, leading to backlash and protests from some individuals who refused to comply.
Upon his return to the Oval Office, President Trump signed executive orders overturning some of the previous administration’s vaccine mandates, including reinstating military members who were discharged for refusal and prohibiting federal funding for vaccine mandates in schools. The ongoing developments surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine and Kennedy’s appointment as HHS Secretary will continue to shape the nation’s healthcare landscape in the coming months.
