Public Health Leaders Voice Fears Over Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Nomination to Lead Department of Health and Human Services
Concerns Over Scientific Credibility and Lack of Formal Medical Training
With President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, numerous public health leaders are voicing fears that the nation’s premier health agencies will be weakened at a time when the country faces rising threats from infectious diseases, emboldened industry lobbyists and the dangerous consequences of medical misinformation.
Kennedy’s History of Promoting Fringe Medical Theories
If confirmed as secretary of HHS, Kennedy — a proponent of fringe medical conspiracies and a self-described “poster child for the anti-vax movement” — would have oversight of institutions including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the National Institutes of Health.
Alarming Experts and Professionals
Many of the problems Kennedy has publicly said he wants to tackle are concerns shared broadly by healthcare providers, public health officials and members of the public. They include pervasive chronic disease, poor nutrition and the ubiquity of processed foods containing artificial chemicals.
However, his nomination has alarmed many public health and medical officials who say they are worried that the solutions Kennedy might deem appropriate could undermine Americans’ health in the long run.
Experts Warn of Potential Consequences
“Putting somebody in charge who is unable to discern the difference between good and bad science is really dangerous for the American people,” said Dr. Peter Lurie, president and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
“Yes, there are some things that he supports that we would agree with, but they feel more like the stopped clock that’s right twice a day,” Lurie said, citing food additives as one example. “There are opportunities for small victories. … But overall, it’s dissolved in so many bad ideas that it’s absolutely not worth it.”
Concerns Over Vaccines and Fluoride
Kennedy’s suggestions that the science around vaccines is unsound would undercut public health, according to more than half a dozen experts who spoke with The Times.
The United States has “the best vaccine safety system in the world,” said Dr. Richard Besser, a former acting CDC director who now leads the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “RFK Jr. has done a lot to undermine confidence in that.”
Indeed, cases of measles have been rising in the U.S. as childhood vaccinations lag, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC has identified 277 measles cases this year, up from 59 in 2023.
Kennedy’s zeal to remove fluoride from drinking water on the claim that the mineral causes neurodevelopmental disorders and other health conditions is another example of shirking the best science, said Dr. Walter Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Limitations of the HHS Secretary Role
Significant as the HHS role is, Kennedy would still find his powers curtailed by the limits of the agency’s reach — and potentially by the whims of his boss.
Willett said he agrees with Kennedy that the nation’s health is in decline, and that our food and healthcare systems are “in many ways dysfunctional.” He would welcome efforts to crack down on the amount of salt allowed in foods and to curtail consumption of added sugars, refined grains and sugar-sweetened beverages.
Conclusion
The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services has raised concerns among public health leaders and experts. Kennedy’s history of promoting fringe medical theories and lack of formal medical training have raised questions about his ability to effectively lead the agency.
FAQs
Q: What are the concerns about Kennedy’s nomination?
A: Many public health leaders and experts are worried that Kennedy’s lack of scientific credibility and history of promoting fringe medical theories could undermine Americans’ health in the long run.
Q: What are some of Kennedy’s views on vaccines and fluoride?
A: Kennedy has suggested that the science around vaccines is unsound and has expressed opposition to water fluoridation, claiming that fluoride causes neurodevelopmental disorders and other health conditions.
Q: What are some of the limitations of the HHS secretary role?
A: While the HHS secretary has significant powers, they are limited by the agency’s reach and the whims of the president. The secretary would not have the power to reform farm subsidies or regulate pesticide use on crops, for example.
Q: What are some of the potential consequences of Kennedy’s nomination?
A: Experts warn that Kennedy’s nomination could lead to a weakening of the nation’s premier health agencies, undermining public health and potentially leading to the spread of infectious diseases and the promotion of unproven health remedies.
