Trump picks RFK Jr., anti-vaccine activist, for health and human services secretary

President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist who dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Trump, to steer the Division of Well being and Human Companies.

Trump made the announcement on his social media platform, Fact Social.

“I’m thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as America Secretary of Well being and Human Companies (HHS),” he wrote. “For too lengthy, People have been crushed by the commercial meals complicated and drug firms who’ve engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation in the case of Public Well being.” 

Donald Trump Jr. additionally shared the information on X.

In a publish on X, Kennedy stated, “Now we have a generational alternative to carry collectively the best minds in science, drugs, business, and authorities to place an finish to the power illness epidemic.”

Throughout his presidential marketing campaign, Kennedy developed a nationwide profile for his criticism of the Covid vaccines and childhood immunizations. He has claimed that vaccines are tied to autism, regardless of proof conveyed by way of research over many years which have disproven such a declare.

The appointment of Kennedy, 70, to steer HHS ends days of hypothesis about what well being position — if any — the previous unbiased presidential candidate-turned-Trump adviser would play within the incoming administration.

Inside HHS is a household of well being businesses that features the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, the Meals and Drug Administration, the Nationwide Institutes of Well being and the Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Companies.

Kennedy has claimed Trump “promised” him “management of the general public well being businesses.”

Aside from the HHS position, Kennedy was stated to have been thought of for a job in tackling weight problems and diabetes in youngsters — generally known as “Operation Warp Velocity for childhood power illness” — and Kennedy himself floated the concept of being a White Home “well being czar.” These roles would not have given him the authority or affect that heading HHS would provide if he’s confirmed.

Kennedy, an environmental lawyer, is understood for his deceptive and false claims about vaccines, together with repeated assertions that vaccines are linked to autism, regardless that for many years quite a few research throughout a number of international locations have debunked the affiliation. He additionally based Youngsters’s Well being Protection, a number one anti-vaccine group.

Different folks stated to have been thought of for the position had been Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon and Trump’s former secretary of housing and concrete growth, and former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who as soon as led the state’s Division of Well being and Hospitals.

The place requires Senate affirmation.

In an announcement following Trump’s announcement, Sen. Invoice Cassidy, R-La., a doctor who’s the rating member on the Well being, Schooling, Labor, and Pensions Committee, stated, “RFK Jr. has championed points like wholesome meals and the necessity for larger transparency in our public well being infrastructure.” 

He continued, “I stay up for studying extra about his different coverage positions and the way they’ll help a conservative, pro-American agenda.” 

Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., stated in an announcement, “Trump’s well being agenda isn’t a secret: worse well being care at the next price for American households.” He stated Kennedy’s “outlandish views on fundamental scientific details are disturbing and will fear all dad and mom who anticipate colleges and different public areas to be secure for his or her youngsters.”

If Kennedy is confirmed, his position may spell a serious shakeup for the federal well being businesses, together with the FDA, the place he has threatened to eradicate total departments and hearth company staff who wage “warfare on public well being.”

A former appearing director of the CDC, Dr. Richard Besser, was surprised by the announcement.

“I’m speechless,” Besser stated. “To have somebody main the Division of Well being and Human Companies who has been one of many greatest purveyors of misinformation about vaccines, one of many greatest purveyors of misinformation about public well being typically, would imperil the well being of individuals throughout the nation.”

NBC Information reported Thursday that some FDA staffers had been contemplating fast exits ought to Kennedy be chosen for a outstanding well being position.

Kennedy has additionally advised that he would ban fluoride in consuming water, in addition to strip ultra-processed meals from U.S. diets.

Within the first administration, Trump tapped former pharmaceutical government Alex Azar for the highest well being company position. Azar changed the primary Trump-appointed well being secretary, Tom Value, who resigned over his use of personal jets for presidency enterprise, costing U.S. taxpayers lots of of 1000’s of {dollars}.

CNBC reported that shares of vaccine makers fell Thursday on the stories that Kennedy may head the highest well being company within the U.S.