WTAS: HHS Decertifies Kentucky Organ Procurement Organization to Protect Patients, Restore Trust

WASHINGTON, D.C.— AUGUST 7, 2026— The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Wednesday began the decertification of Network for Hope, the federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) serving Kentucky and parts of Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia, after multiple federal reviews found persistent patient safety failures despite extensive oversight and despite Network for Hope having been provided repeated opportunities to correct them. Those failures put prospective organ donors and patients awaiting lifesaving transplants at risk.

“Americans who choose to become organ donors deserve a system that honors their gift and protects every patient,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Today’s action reflects the Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting the sanctity of life. Organizations that repeatedly fail to meet federal standards and put patients at risk will be held accountable.”

Here’s how medical professionals and the media are responding to Secretary Kennedy’s actions:

Government Officials
Medical Professionals
Advocates & Organizations
Influencers & Members of the Media
Headlines

Government Officials:

• Rep. Brett Guthrie via press release: “Thanks to the steadfast oversight efforts of Secretary Kennedy and our robust oversight on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, decisive action has been taken to protect American patients and families…We have conducted rigorous oversight of the alarming practices in our organ procurement and transplantation system, and the American people deserve to have an organ procurement and transplantation system that they can trust. This action takes a step forward in restoring integrity back to that system.”
• Rep. John Joyce via press release: “Serious deficiencies in Network for Hope's organ procurement process were brought to light through the work of our Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee…Despite subsequent efforts by HHS to address these issues, concerns remain about Network for Hope's ability to safely carry out its duties as an OPO. Therefore, I applaud HHS for taking decisive action to initiate the decertification process against the organization. I want to express my gratitude to Secretary Kennedy, Administrator Engels, and Administrator Oz for their attention to this important issue and their recognition of this necessary action following our oversight efforts, including last year's hearing that centered on our concerns regarding Network for Hope. As the process moves forward, I urge Network for Hope to fully cooperate with HHS to ensure that patients and their safety are prioritized throughout the decertification process and the selection of a new OPO to take over Network for Hope's donor service area.”
• Sen. Chuck Grassley via X: “For yrs I hv conducted oversight of organ transplant system + got landmark reforms passed into law in 2023 Gr8 news Scty Kennedy is decertifying an organ procurement org in Kentucky that Ive flagged 4 persistent patient safety failures Reforms shld continue”
• Sen. Ron Wyden via press release: “This situation is a clear example of why the organ transplant system in America needs significant reforms…Too often, safety measures and true accountability are tossed to the wayside in favor of skewed incentives that don’t help American families. Decertification is a first step…”
• Rep. Jason Smith via press release: “Fraud and medical misconduct committed by organ procurement organizations like Network for Hope is not only an affront to the American taxpayer that generously subsidizes their tax-exempt status but also is a grave threat to the health and well-being of American patients who could become victims of their profit-seeking schemes. The Ways and Means Committee has been relentless in our oversight efforts to bring to light the misdeeds, the fraud, and the gross negligence of OPOs that we have identified in our investigation, and I appreciate that we have been joined in this effort by the Trump Administration and its commitment to weeding out waste, fraud, and abuse. This decision to decertify a second OPO shows a seriousness of purpose in our efforts to establish a greater degree of accountability within this sector of our health care system so that organ donors, recipients, and their families can have greater faith in the system. Without that trust and confidence, more Americans will lose out on the life-saving benefits of organ donation.”
• Rep. David Schweikert via press release: “Chairman Smith and I launched this investigation after reports that Network for Hope pushed ahead with organ recovery even when patients showed signs of life. That is unconscionable. I commend HHS for taking action to decertify the organization. Our investigation is not over, and we will continue to hold those responsible accountable and make sure taxpayers are not footing the bill for this conduct.”
• Idaho State Senator Tammy Nichols via X: “What on earth. Harvesting organs while the person is very much alive. Wow!”
• Christina Henderson, DC Councilmember via X: “It is not a small thing for HHS to decertify a multi-state organ procurement organization. But the findings from the federal investigation were highly problematic…”

Medical Professionals:

• Nycki Martin, Former Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates employee via NewsNation broadcast: “Truthfully, a lot of power has been given to the OPO’s in our country. To get things back to where they need to be, the power needs to taken back to the hospital and to the donors and their families. It needs to be controlled by them, and the OPO’s shouldn’t even be involved in the situation of organ donation unless they are asked to be at bedside. I think at that point the decision can be made appropriately in a strong-willed manner that’s good for everybody involved, where there’s no questions. The hospitals don’t feel pressured to pronounce someone braindead or do testing that’s not wanted, the families are given the appropriate amount of time. Every situation is different the way that someone passes away. And to just sign up like a legal binding document when you sign your driver’s license, you shouldn’t be held accountable to that decision at that time if there’s some kind of strange or different circumstance with the way that you pass away.”
• Dr. Heidi Klessig (@heidiklessigmd), retired anesthesiologist via X: “The sister of TJ Hoover, whose recovery from brain death prompted the HHS investigation into the transplant industry, was told that her brother’s movements on the way to the operating room were ‘just reflexes.’”
• Leland Stillman, M.D. (@StillmanMD), integrative medicine doctor via X: “Why people don't trust doctors anymore, Exhibit B. (For exhibit A, see COVID-19)”

Advocates & Organizations:

• Donna Rohrer, sister of TJ Hoover via NewsNation broadcast: “Accountability looks like anyone who was involved in TJ’s case or other patients that may be out there, that this similar thing has happened to, that they be held accountable and if necessary prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
• MAHA Institute via X: “…HHS began the process of decertifying Network for Hope, an organ procurement organization serving Kentucky and parts of neighboring states. Multiple federal reviews by CMS and HRSA found persistent patient safety failures, including cases where potential donors may not have been deceased, poor neurologic assessments, questionable consent practices, and inadequate corrective actions despite prior oversight and opportunities to improve…”
• Association of Organ Procurement Organizations via press release: “The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) fully supports actions to strengthen our nation’s organ donation and transplant system and to ensure all stakeholders are held to the highest standards of patient safety, quality and integrity. Should an OPO fall short of any regulatory, statutory, or legal standard or requirement, AOPO supports federal and state oversight entities holding them accountable as appropriate, through corrective actions or, if necessary and prudent, decertification…”
• Federation of American Scientists Senior Fellow and former Assistant Director in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Jennifer Erickson via Healthcare Dive: “Secretary Kennedy showed great leadership in saying what we’ve known since 2024: Network for Hope cannot be allowed to continue to operate, since it is an ongoing, deadly risk to 7 million people across Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia…If Network for Hope fights this action, it will show that it cares more about executive paychecks than patients.”
• Federation of American Scientists Senior Fellow and former Assistant Director in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Jennifer Erickson, via The Washington Post: “Patients across four states...remain at risk everyday that Network for Hope is allowed to operate…”
• Organize CEO, Greg Segal, via The Washington Post: “Decertifying dangerous OPOs is the only way to restore public trust…”
• Vaccine Safety Research Foundation via X: “Every American should be horrified. Organ procurement is big bu$ine$$, which is exactly why every case must be handled with complete transparency, independent oversight, and fully informed family consent. Our hearts go out to Donna & TJ...this must never happen again.”

Influencers & Members of the Media:

• Lawrence B. Jones, Fox & Friends Host via Fox News broadcast: “Sick. Can’t believe this happened.”
• Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) via X: “JUST IN: HHS Sec. Bobby Kennedy is formally DECERTIFYING Kentucky organ procurement organization ‘Network for Hope’ that shockingly pushed to remove people's organs who showed SIGNS OF LIFE, and committed other violations. They were trying to take people's organs if they weren't dead…Thank you, @SecKennedy!”
• Nick Sortor (@nicksotor) via X: “BREAKING: Secretary RFK Jr. has DECERTIFIED Kentucky’s organ procurement organization Network for Hope after they IGNORED signs of life from SEVERAL patients scheduled for organ donations This is BEYOND evil. People should be LOCKED UP over this. Despite signs of life, the organization allegedly pushed for organ removals anyway…”
• Wesley J. Smith, Host of Humanize Podcast via National Review: “Say what you will about Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but he definitely cares about ensuring that organ transplant medicine remains ethical, and unlike many government functionaries, he and his department are actually doing something about it.”
• Wesley J. Smith (@theWesleyJSmith), Host of Humanize Podcast via X: “My latest: This is important. The people’s trust in organ transplant medicine is already shallow as unwise efforts to loosen ethical standards advocated by prominent bioethicists threaten to further erode public confidence.”
• @MJTruthUltra via X: “RFK Jr. Decertifies Network for Hope Over Patient Safety Failures Involving Organ Harvesting Processes Initiated on Patients Showing Signs of Life. The organ procurement organization serving Kentucky and parts of Ohio, West Virginia, and Indiana. Investigations by HHS/HRSA, CMS, and congressional oversight found persistent patient-safety failures which shockingly included organ-recovery processes even when patients showed signs of being ALIVE.”
• @MJTruthUltra via X: “My God… this is horrific. Sister Recounts Horrifying Moment her Brother Wept as he was being prepped to have his Organs Harvested…”
• Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) via X: “HHS Sec. RFK Jr. just EXPOSED and DECERTIFIED a Kentucky organ procurement org. for ignoring SIGNS OF LIFE on several patients scheduled for organ donations. God bless RFK Jr. It's insane this isn't getting more media coverage.”
• Alana Newman (@AlanaNewmanCA), host of The Speaker Salon via X: “I fully support this!”
• One America News (@OANN) via X: “HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the federal government has a responsibility to protect patients and restore trust in the nation’s organ donation system. Kennedy emphasized the importance of strong oversight, noting that donors, families, and transplant recipients deserve confidence that the system is safe, ethical, and prioritizes patient safety.”
• Cassandra MacDonald (@CassandraRules) writer and editor at the Gateway Pundit via X: “What has happened to this country? My goodness.”
• Bethel McGrew (@BMcGrewvy) columnist via X: “I'm not the world's biggest RFK, Jr. fan, but this is a good move.”

Headlines:

• The New York Times: U.S. Cuts Ties with Organ Donor Group After Reports of Abuses
• The Washington Post: U.S. moves to decertify group that tried to collect organs from living patients
• AP: US moves to shut a Kentucky organ donation group, citing safety failures
• CNN: HHS shutting down Kentucky organ procurement group over safety concerns
• NBC: Trump admin moves to shut Kentucky organ donation group, citing safety failures
• Fox News: [CLIP] HHS decertifies Kentucky organ donation agency following near-fatal error
• Fox News: [CLIP] HHS decertifies Kentucky organ donor network over near-harvesting incident
• NewsNation: Sister of living man whose organs were nearly harvested demands reforms
• Spectrum News: HHS decertifies Kentucky organ donation nonprofit after misconduct investigation
• U.S. News & World Report: US Moves to Shut a Kentucky Organ Donation Group, Citing Safety Failures
• Washington Examiner: RFK Jr. disbands Kentucky organ donation group for coerced harvesting
• The National Desk: HHS decertifies organ donation organization after ‘persistent patient safety failures’
• STAT: U.S. moves to shut a Kentucky organ donation group, citing safety failures
• Fierce Healthcare: HHS announces decertification of Kentucky-based organ procurement organization Network for Hope
• Healthcare Dive: HHS moves to decertify organ procurement group over patient safety failures
• The Post Millennial: HHS decertifies Kentucky organ donation group after revelations donors were not dead when doctors attempted to harvest organs
• The Independent: Trump administration moves to shut down Kentucky organ donation group over safety concerns
• USA Today: HHS decertifies Kentucky organ donation group over safety concerns
• National Review: RFK Jr. Decertifies Kentucky Organ Procurement Organization
• Gateway Pundit: RFK Jr. DECERTIFIES Kentucky Organ Harvesting Group After It IGNORED Signs of Life in Dozens of Patients
• Daily Mail: Organ-donation group faces shutdown after patients allegedly showed signs of life as preparations continued
• Lifenews.com: HHS Decertifies Program for Harvesting Organs on Patients Still Alive
• Epoch Times: Feds to Decertify Kentucky Organ Transplant Group
• Dallas Express: Still Alive? Organ Donor Group Faces Shutdown Over Patients Who May Not Have Been Dead
• The Courier Journal: Why RFK Jr. just decertified Network for Hope, KY's organ donation nonprofit
• WKYT: HHS decertifies organ procurement organization serving Kentucky, RFK Jr. says
• LEX 18: U.S. Health Secretary RFK Jr. decertifies Kentucky organ donation group during Lexington visit
• WLKY: Federal government decertifies Louisville organ donation nonprofit due to 'safety failures'
• WDRB: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces decertification of organ donation provider for Kentucky, Indiana
• Fox 56: U.S. cuts ties with Kentucky’s organ donation Network for Hope, review finds near donors ‘not deceased’
• WHAS: Kentucky organ procurement organization will be decertified, RFK Jr. says
• Kentucky Public Radio: Tri-State organ donation group accused of ‘safety failures’ to be shut down, RFK Jr. says
• The Lexington Times: RFK Jr. announces decertification of KY organ donor group after numerous problems
• Lexington Herald Leader: Federal government decertifies Network for Hope, Kentucky’s organ donation group
• Kentucky Lantern: RFK Jr. announces decertification of KY organ donor group after numerous problems
• Sky News: US government moves to shut down organ donation group over alleged 'safety failures'
• Breitbart: RFK Jr. Decertifies Organ Procurement Organization for Safety Failures, Attempt to Take Organs of Living Patient
• The Blaze: RFK Jr. decertifies Kentucky organ harvesting outfit accused of ignoring signs of life in ‘donors’
• Townhall: Here's Why RFK Jr. Just Decertified a Kentucky Organ Donor Procurement Organization
• JustTheNews: Trump administration seeks to end problematic organ procurement program, placing a premium on life
• Becker’s Hospital Review: HHS moves to decertify organ procurement organization