Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Poised for Major Health Agency Shake-Up if Confirmed as HHS Chief
By Amanda Seitz, Matthew Perrone, and Jonel Aleccia
WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine activist and environmentalist, stands at the center of a potential storm surrounding the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees a massive $1.7 trillion budget and nearly half of U.S. health services. With President-elect Donald Trump considering Kennedy for the agency’s leadership, a significant shift in public health policy looms.
Kennedy, known for his scathing critiques of public health agencies, has openly targeted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), predicting “a war on public health” will end under his watch and threatening to dismiss FDA employees for what he terms “aggressive suppression” of unverified medical treatments, including ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. He has called for a complete overhaul of FDA protocols, which may prove difficult given the agency’s stringent regulatory frameworks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may also see substantial changes, as Kennedy previously vowed to reverse fluoride recommendations in drinking water—based on CDC guidelines credited with reducing cavities.
Kennedy’s remarks extend to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he has suggested mass dismissals, aiming to reshape research priorities towards preventive and alternative health approaches. He has been critical of NIH funding practices, seeking to eliminate conflicts of interest among researchers.
While Kennedy has championed revolutionary ideas like financing gym memberships through Medicare and Medicaid instead of covering expensive diabetes drugs, his stance remains largely controversial. His potential confirmation could usher in unprecedented changes to the nation’s public health landscape, positioning him against a backdrop of expertise represented by the nearly 80,000 professionals at HHS. The outcome of his nomination will play a pivotal role in defining future healthcare policies in the U.S.
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Photo credit www.bostonherald.com
