A top federal health official has been placed on administrative leave following revelations that she publicly championed a major medication policy shift that directly benefited a company in which she holds significant financial stakes. Alicia Jackson, the director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, appeared at a high profile press conference last November to celebrate the removal of black box warnings from hormone replacement therapies. During the event, Jackson described the move as a victory for women’s health and claimed the science clearly showed such treatments are safe and effective.

However, disclosure records obtained by ProPublica reveal that Jackson is the founder and former CEO of Evernow, an online platform connecting women with menopause specialists. Despite leaving her executive role to enter government service, Jackson retained at least 115,000 dollars in stock and various options in the company. This creates a stark overlap between her public advocacy for expanded access to these medications and her private wealth, especially since Evernow launched a nationwide expansion shortly after the regulatory changes took effect.

Ethics experts argue that using a government podium to endorse a policy that boosts one’s own business interests may violate federal laws prohibiting employees from participating in matters affecting their personal finances. Former White House ethics lawyer Virginia Canter noted that this situation places Jackson squarely within the zone of a potential violation. While it remains unclear if Jackson personally influenced the FDA’s decision to drop the warnings, critics say her official endorsement alone constitutes an alarming conflict of interest.

The controversy comes amid broader concerns regarding oversight within several federal agencies. Records indicate that Jackson’s mandatory financial disclosures remained uncertified for months, and internal memos suggest she required recusal from a significant portion of her duties due to an extensive investment portfolio shared with her venture capitalist husband. While Department of Health and Human Services spokespeople confirmed Jackson is now on leave pending a factual assessment, they have declined to provide further details on whether an inspector general investigation is underway.