The board overseeing the N.I.H. Clinical Center voted unanimously to rebuke Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Board members approved a statement accusing Kennedy of undermining public trust in the hospital’s research and patient care.
The vote marks a rare public clash between a federal health agency’s leadership and a sitting cabinet secretary.
The statement cited concerns that political pressure is interfering with the hospital’s scientific independence.
Kennedy has repeatedly questioned vaccine safety and criticized federal health institutions he now oversees.
The N.I.H. Clinical Center is the nation’s largest hospital dedicated solely to clinical research.
Board members said the dispute could damage morale among staff and erode confidence among patients.
The rebuke follows months of tension between Kennedy and career scientists at multiple health agencies.
Neither the Department of Health and Human Services nor the N.I.H. issued an immediate response to the vote.
