Jay Bhattacharya and Marty Makary launched the Journal of the Academy of Public Health, and observers have raised concerns that the journal, with its limited and ideologically clustered editorial board, may promote misinformation regarding COVID-19 and undermine consensus scientific viewpoints.

Senate confirmation of Jay Bhattacharya as head of the NIH and Marty Makary as FDA overseer marks a significant milestone for the founders of the Journal of the Academy of Public Health. Their bipartisan confirmation, contrasting with many of Trump-era picks, underscores a commitment to progressive public health policy.

The Journal of the Academy of Public Health officially launched and, just two days later, faced criticism from Science Magazine. In response, the journal's leadership defended its commitment to open scientific debate, rejecting legacy media censorship and emphasizing a non-conventional, open-access approach that challenges established narratives.

The Journal of the Academy of Public Health, co-founded by NIH nominee Jay Bhattacharya and former Harvard biostatistician Martin Kulldorff, has been launched amid concerns over its editorial policies. Critics note that its open publication model bypasses traditional quality controls and may serve as a platform for contrarian views on public health issues, potentially sowing doubt about established scientific consensus.

The Journal of the Academy of Public Health, which launched on February 5, 2025, promises open access and open peer review with compensation. However, its funding from the right-leaning RealClearFoundation and its editorial board, including Trump administration nominees, have raised concerns among critics who fear the journal may serve as an echo chamber for politicized scientific propaganda that undermines scientific integrity.