Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s daughter-in-law, Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, is stepping down from two of her three government roles, in part because of the war with Iran, according to a new report.
Resignation Details
Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, a former CIA officer, informed colleagues earlier this month that she plans to leave her positions this coming Friday, as reported by The Washington Post. The outlet spoke to five individuals who confirmed her decision, with one source indicating that the move was partially driven by her disagreement with President Donald Trump's military actions in Iran.
Kennedy currently serves as the Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Policy and Capabilities and the Associate Director for Intelligence and International Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget. She also holds a seat on the President's Intelligence Advisory Board.
Family Priorities
In an email reviewed by The Post, Kennedy told colleagues she intends to remain on the intelligence advisory board while leaving her other two roles. The email did not mention Iran. She wrote: "Being a mom is God's greatest gift, and after two years on the campaign trail and a year serving in this extraordinary Administration, I have to make sure my family has all it needs."
The White House declined to comment, referring inquiries to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Office of Management and Budget. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told The Post: "We are grateful to Amaryllis Fox Kennedy for her leadership and exceptional service. Under her leadership, we successfully aligned the Intelligence Community agencies with the Administration's and ODNI's goals, driving a unified approach to our mission."
Background
Kennedy managed her father-in-law's 2024 presidential campaign before he withdrew from the race and endorsed Trump. After the election, Trump briefly considered Kennedy for the CIA's deputy director position but ultimately decided against it after some Republicans expressed concerns about potential significant changes to the agency, as reported by The Post at the time. Michael Ellis currently serves as the agency's deputy director.
From 2002 to 2010, Kennedy worked at the CIA, focusing on preventing terrorist groups from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. She has also held various roles at artificial intelligence and technology companies.
Previous Resignation
Kennedy's decision comes approximately two months after National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent resigned over the war with Iran. Kent wrote in an X post: "I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby." Trump later criticized Kent, calling him a "sleazebag" and accusing him of "disloyalty" in a Truth Social post last month.
