What to Expect in Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Nomination Hearings This Week
President Donald Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer with no formal medical or public health expertise, as secretary of Health and Human Services. Two Senate committees will question Kennedy this week on how his disproven views of science and medicine qualify him to run the $1.7 trillion, 80,000-employee federal health system.
1) Kennedy’s Unconventional Health Claims
For decades, Kennedy has advocated for health-related ideas that are scientifically disproven or controversial. He created and was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by Children’s Health Defense, a group that champions the false idea that vaccines cause autism and other chronic diseases. Kennedy has said that covid vaccines are the deadliest in history, antidepressants lead children to commit mass shootings, environmental contaminants may cause people to become trans, and HIV is not the only cause of AIDS. He also pushes the use of products that regulators consider dangerous, such as raw milk, and for broader use of some medicines, such as ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, to treat conditions without FDA approval.
"He believes you can avoid disease if you have a healthy immune system. He sees vaccines and antibiotics as toxins," said Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
2) Kennedy’s Chances Appear Good, Despite Opposition
Kennedy’s nomination has emerged in a moment when Trump is on a roll and mistrust of public health and medical authority in the wake of the pandemic has created an opening for people with unorthodox views of science to seize the reins of the country’s health system.
After former Fox News personality Pete Hegseth was confirmed as Defense secretary last week despite his controversial qualifications for the job and stark warnings from former top military brass, many Washington observers think RFK Jr. is going to be hard to defeat.
3) The Hearings are Going to be Heated
Democratic senators are coming with plenty of ammunition. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent Kennedy a 34-page letter containing 175 questions on everything from his anti-vaccine statements and actions to his waffling positions on abortion to his stances on Medicare, drug prices, and the cause of AIDS.
4) What Happens if Kennedy Takes Office
At the NIH, FDA, and other federal health agencies, nervous scientists speak of early retirement or jumping to industry should Kennedy and his agency heads take office. The pharmaceutical industry has kept quiet on the nomination, as has the American Medical Association. Many patient advocacy groups are worried, but wary of creating friction with an administration they can’t ignore or defeat.
Conclusion
Kennedy’s nomination has sparked widespread concern among public health and medical professionals, who worry that his unproven views on science and medicine could undermine the nation’s public health system. As his nomination hearing approaches, it remains to be seen whether he will be confirmed or not.
FAQs
- Who is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.?
- A environmental lawyer with no formal medical or public health expertise.
- What are his views on vaccines?
- He believes vaccines are the deadliest in history and have caused autism and other chronic diseases.
- What are his views on HIV and AIDS?
- He suggests that HIV is not the only cause of AIDS and that environmental contaminants may cause people to become trans.
- What are his views on drug prices?
- He believes that pharmaceutical companies are responsible for high drug prices and advocates for the use of generic medications.
- What are his views on Medicare?
- He believes that Medicare is a government-run program that is too expensive and inefficient and advocates for private alternatives.
- How likely is he to be confirmed?
- Despite opposition from many public health and medical professionals, his nomination has emerged in a moment when Trump is on a roll and mistrust of public health and medical authority is high, making it possible that he may be confirmed.
