Rumors are spreading all over the place.’ Experts fear the cancellation signals a sidelining of science at federal health agencies under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s leadership.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed on Thursday that a meeting of its independent advisory panel to discuss the composition of this year's flu vaccine has been canceled and the regulator would instead make recommendations later.

This week, the Food and Drug Administration — now with vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the helm — unexpectedly and without reason canceled a March meeting of scientists who advise the FDA on vaccine policy. A similar meeting at the Centers for Disease Control was postponed last week.