President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has triggered strong reactions, drawing praise from some corners while raising alarms among public health experts. Supporters, including Colorado Governor Jared Polis, see Kennedy's appointment as a chance to challenge established health practices, while critics warn of the potential risks to vaccine programs and scientific integrity.
In a social media statement, Polis praised Kennedy, saying, "He helped us defeat vaccine mandates in Colorado and will help make America healthy again by shaking up HHS and FDA." Despite being a frequent critic of Trump, Polis expressed optimism, noting that Kennedy might "lean into personal choice on vaccines" and highlighting his willingness to take on "big pharma and the corporate ag oligopoly."
Trump, in his announcement, characterized Kennedy's nomination as a move to "restore [HHS] as the 'Gold Standard Scientific Research'" agency. "For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health," Trump stated. He assured the public that Kennedy's leadership would prioritize transparency and combat chronic disease.
Kennedy, who ran as a Democratic presidential candidate before endorsing Trump, has drawn attention for his controversial anti-vaccine stance. Speaking at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally, Kennedy attacked the Democratic Party, declaring, "The Democratic Party is the party of war. It's the party of the CIA... It's the party today that wants to divide Americans." His rhetoric, blending public health and political grievances, has galvanized supporters but alarmed many within the health community.
Public health officials did not hold back their concerns. Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, called Kennedy's appointment "an extraordinarily bad choice for the health of the American people." Dr. Carlos del Rio, executive associate dean of the Emory School of Medicine, shared similar sentiments, stating, "I was worried we could go low but not this low."
Kennedy's history of promoting debunked vaccine claims has put health experts on edge. Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, expressed his worries about a potential Kennedy-led health agenda, warning it could lead to further public health setbacks.
However, Kennedy's advocacy for food policy reform has earned cautious approval from some. Marion Nestle, a food policy researcher, acknowledged his focus on food regulation and reducing toxic chemicals. "It's hard to argue with any of this," she wrote, while maintaining skepticism about his ability to achieve such reforms.
Kennedy himself has pledged to "clean up" HHS, emphasizing a commitment to eliminating "corporate capture" within public health agencies. "Together we will clean up corruption, stop the revolving door between industry and government, and return our health agencies to their rich tradition of gold-standard, evidence-based science," he said in a statement. But his aggressive rhetoric toward agencies like the FDA has left many uneasy. Recently, he declared, "FDA's war on public health is about to end," targeting the agency's stance on alternative therapies and pharmaceuticals.
Kennedy's contentious views extend to issues like fluoridated water, which he argues poses significant health risks. While the American Dental Association defends fluoridation as vital for preventing tooth decay, Kennedy believes otherwise, pointing to a recent court ruling that urged further regulation due to developmental risks in children.
