Trump Nominates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for HHS

Donald Trump's nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has sparked widespread outrage among health experts and advocacy groups, who label him a 'clear and present danger' to public health due to his longstanding skepticism of vaccines and promotion of conspiracy theories. Critics, including the co-presidents of Public Citizen, argue that Kennedy's appointment could reverse progress made in public health and undermine trust in the institutions overseeing health policy. RFK Jr. has suggested dismantling key FDA departments and has expressed intentions to drastically alter health policies, raising alarms about potential repercussions for vaccine uptake and public health infrastructure. Trump's support for Kennedy, whom he says will 'go wild' on health policy, is seen as part of a broader trend of eroding scientific expertise within the federal government. Many in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors are deeply concerned about the implications of Kennedy's leadership on HHS, which oversees critical health agencies like the CDC and NIH. The nomination's fate remains uncertain, as some senators are already calling for a rejection of Kennedy's appointment.