Donald Trumps nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has experts urging the senate to reject the nomination. In fact, today over 75 Nobel prize winning laureates in medicine, chemistry, physics and economics signed a letter outlining the danger Kennedy would be as the head of the DHHS.
The letter warned that “Placing Mr. Kennedy in charge of DHHS would put the public’s health in jeopardy and undermine America’s global leadership in the health sciences.” As Kennedy has previously opposed important public health tools, such as vaccines and the fluoridation of drinking water, critics have good reason to be wary of his potential appointment. Kennedy has also inaccurately linked vaccines to autism, denied the connection of H.I.V. to AIDS, and erroneously proposed a link between certain races to the contraction of Coronavirus (specifically stating that Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people would be immune to it). His rejection of proven science poses a great threat to our nation as the department is so important.
The Department of Health and Human Services contains critical agencies like the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health. Vowing to threaten and fire long standing professionals in these agencies, Kennedy worries Nobel laureates of the future success and global standing of the DHHS.
If confirmed, Kennedy would head a department responsible for 13 agencies, a nearly $2 trillion budget, and federal health programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. This is by far the biggest job he would have ever had, with nothing coming even remotely close. Jeff Hutt, spokesperson for the Make America Healthy Again political action committee and Kennedy’s former national field director, said, “He’s an inspirational leader who’s able to communicate. But he’s not a manager.” Kennedy’s last professional effort, his campaign, ended before any votes were cast, leaving him $4.5 million in debt. “I have no idea how he’s going to run a full department, if that’s how he ran the campaign,” said one observer.
Experts agree through example that Kennedy has proven he is not qualified to lead the DHHS. His approval process in the senate will offer more insight into the quality of the senate's vetting process rather than the candidate himself.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5031298-nobel-laureates-oppose-rfk-jr/
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/28/rfk-hhs-management-doubts-00191852
37 comments:
RFK Jr. is the absolute antithesis of a healthcare professional.
First of all, his claims about vaccines, food, etc. are representative of a lack of knowledge and respect of basic science. His views are by no means unique to him though. There are many Americans who are dangerously misinformed, or deeply reluctant to trust mainstream scientific health claims. Then again, perhaps that is part of RFK Jr.’s appeal, and the reason Trump has chosen him.
Then there is his personal health - he claimed to have had suffered from a brain parasite and high mercury levels. Perhaps these are not indications of a person who is qualified to tell Americans how to stay healthy.
RFK Jr. is not the only absurd pick Trump has made for his cabinet though. From selecting a Director of National Intelligence that seems to have an affinity towards foreign dictators, to creating a Department of Government Efficiency that may just turn out to be powerless and unproductive, Trump’s actions seem almost intentionally ironic and destructive.
Since Trump released many of his cabinet picks, I have repeatedly seen an influx of cartoons and memes that point out how the picks for every department are at an exact detriment to the function of the respective agency. I think RFK’s nomination is one of the most ironic — an HHS Secretary who encourages raw milk consumption seems like a hypothetical I would’ve seen on Tiktok six months ago. For this reason, I admit that my shock was starting to force me to accept such an absurd nomination. Not only is it a great relief to hear that experts are speaking up, but it gives me a much more optimistic view of America’s future — with how much experts are being ignored nowadays I was starting to forget that they were out there. Although, now, we (in the Bay Area especially) need them more than ever.
One of Kennedy’s views that worries me in particular is his drive to halt infectious disease research for eight years. Considering that America’s first case of monkeypox was discovered a few weeks ago in San Mateo County, RFK’s nomination is especially a threat to our community if he enacts his plans, and a pause on such research may possibly send America into another pandemic (something that will not only set us back health-wise, but also socially and economically). I think one of the scariest things seen lately is the rate at which many politicians are denying science. Therefore, experts speaking up and potentially saving our communities from devastation under RFK is some of the best news I could ask for.
Kennedy also has stated that he intends to ban over 100 food preservatives that would are also banned in many European countries. This would cause shelf life of foods to decrease by a lot, causing prices to increase and also contributing to hunger and starvation for those who are already struggling to buy food right now. Many of his policies are targeted to appeasing people like Donald Trump and the extremely wealthy, with no regard for the average American who is just trying to get by. Hopefully RFK does not entirely halt medical research in these next 4 years.
I am very much unsurprised reading this article. This is a typical Donald Trump cabinet pick. A big name, who is loyal, and completely unqualified for the job. His conspiracy theories are something else, one I expect of a Trump nominee. He said that the use of antidepressants, and not increased access to machine guns, is a reason for increased mass shootings. In addition, he claimed that toxic chemicals in water cause gender dysphoria in children. These are just a couple of his absurd theories he attempts to spread. Kennedy blatantly ignores science and evidence based research which makes him a harmful candidate, especially for public health. It truly scares me that he will be the country's leader in this department, someone who spreads ridiculous conspiracies rather than listening to science.
The possibility of Kennedy being in charge of the DHHS is a very dangerous one. While this is not a surprising nomination based on some of Trump's other picks, the spread of false information regarding public healthcare can be detrimental to the country, especially if it comes from an authority figure who should be highly educated and knowledgeable of the facts presented - which Kennedy clearly is not. With the COVID-19 pandemic we saw just how easily manipulated the public can be when it comes to issues related to healthcare. A clearly misinformed and uneducated person should not be in charge of the DHHS, holding a position where the power to manipulate uninformed citizens is so accessible.
The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr, to lead the department of health and human services has sparked a significant controversy, and it is honestly very easy to see why. Kennedy has a known history in promoting misinformation on critical health issues, such as vaccines and the line between HIV and AIDS. This being known, the concerns to his nomination are very valid since so many people believe he is not capable of effectively overseeing a department that relies solely on evidence based science in order to protect public health. DHHS is also not just a little meaningless organization, it manages important programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, causing the nomination to be particularly alarming. Leading something so big requires not only leadership skills, but also trust from the public, and Kennedy’s record seems to fall short in both of these. I think it will be quite interesting to see how the senate handles the nomination and if they prioritize qualifications.
Honestly, the idea of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. running the Department of Health and Human Services is pretty wild. Given his history of spreading misinformation about vaccines and health science, it’s hard to see how he’d be a good fit. The CDC and FDA rely on trust from the public, and putting someone in charge who’s questioned the science behind vaccines and health issues could seriously hurt that trust. It’s not just about being a "good communicator" — managing a department this big and important requires more than just talk. If he gets confirmed, it could make people even more skeptical of the health systems that are already struggling to regain public confidence.
The selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr for leading the Department of Health and Human Services is ultimately very concerning. Given the critical role the DHHS holds in protecting national health, RFK Jr's history of theories, specifically denying the connection between HIV and AIDS and linking vaccines to autism, raises very serious concerns about the United States' future of public health. Overall, the DHHS needs a leader that can prioritize the public health of Americans, RFK Jr seems to not be ready to take on a very significant position like this. Appointing someone with such a concerning background can serve long-term negative impacts on the public heath of the US.
Over 75 Nobel laureates signing a letter opposing Kennedy is undoubtedly impressive, however I think the impacts of this letter will be limited. In our highly polarized current political landscape, trust in experts/scientists is already low, especially with the rise of populist, anti-elitist politics; I'm worried that these comments will only further galvanize the MAGA base, who may see this as proving their anti-establishment sentiments. Also, the amount of support that Kennedy gets saddens me. The fact that there are people supporting him even despite his blatant hypocrisy and misinformation really shows just how deeply entrenched partisan loyalty has become, and how politics overrides fact.
I agree immensely with Jeff Hutt, at least about the failed campaign. Kennedy suspended his campaign after getting little support, and turned to endorse Trump. He is flighty and committed only to political gain. As head of the Health and Human Services, he would not take true care of the nation's public health. I doubt he will pass the Senate, due in large part to the science that opposes everything Kennedy stands for about vaccinations. However, if he does, Trump will realize too soon that he has made a mistake once Kennedy screws our nation's health over. It is a public embarrassment for Trump if he were to remove his appointee in the middle of the term, especially because there was so much opposition. The only hope our nation has if Kennedy is appointed are the senior civil servants of the Department of Health and Human Services who many of the workers are very loyal to. The senior employees have real power, and can override Kennedy. It helps that their jobs are heavily protected, so the risk is not huge.
It's impressive how many bad health takes RFK Jr has as the nominee for DHHS. I wonder if Trump only picked him because of his strong loyalty, or if Trump truly believes in and supports the ideas that RFK Jr has and does promoted. With this same train of thought, one would wonder whether senators will vote in accordance with their health beliefs or with their alignment with Trump. One would hope these elected officials would vote with their beliefs on health, as that is ultimately what RFK Jr will be placed in charge of, but it can't be guaranteed, or even assumed that they will, as we have seen the powerful force that is Trump's personality. Furthermore, I wonder if even RFK Jr himself has strong ideas for health, or if his actions are only for political gain, as he's demonstrated in the past.
Honestly, I have not been keeping up closely with who Trump is appointing, so this was very informative for me, but also equally terrifying. Besides his outspoken rejection of science--that has been proven time and time again--it is just as concerning that one of his former colleagues, who obviously supports such a polarizing right-wing person to some capacity ("He’s an inspirational leader who’s able to communicate"), believes that he will have a difficult time in such a major management position ("But he’s not a manager"). The fact that he has never had any job come "even remotely close" to the leadership he will possess now is very concerning. It is laughable looking at this--seeing such an uninformed and ignorant person--and thinking back to the beginning of the year, where we learned about the founder's wishes to have more skilled people in government (electing/keeping people based on merit).
Kennedy's appointment isn't just a question of qualifications; it's a potential flashpoint for internal cabinet dynamics and public policy contradictions. The McDonald's photo op that Trump posted, in which Kennedy, who has likened processed foods and a fast-food diet to poison, holds up a McDonald's burger, is both hilarious, sad, and reflects a pattern of Trump deliberately humiliating his defeated rivals before (callback to the viral 2016 dinner between Trump and Mitt Romney). The Trump loyalty litmus test has shown time and time again -- we remember Rex Tillerson (former Secretary of State) and James Mattis (former Secretary of Defense) both resigning/fired from Trump's administration during his first term -- that loyalty to his policies and public image outweigh (the however nonexistent) expertise/individual beliefs within his cabinet, and those who stray too far from his messaging are pressured to toe the line. In the end, independent decision-making within his cabinet will be effectively nonexistent, and Trump's cult of personality will reign supreme.
I wouldn't be surprised if it was his brainworm making all of these spineless claims (pun intended). This nomination is appalling. Since when has a government system that prided itself in freedom of speech and minority voices turned into a race to see who can kiss the most ass? As grim as the reality may seem, I am certain that the reality of the situation will be much more forgivable. Nonetheless, this nomination is concerning both for the future and health of this country.
I dont know much about Kennedy but Ive heard enough about him to know that this decision by Trump is insane and wrong. This man is known for misinformation on critical health problems. The fact that 75 Nobel prize winners signed off on a letter to tell the senate to deny this nomination should be enough to tell you this isnt the man for the job. I also dont understand why a president can just nominate someone like this to be in control of our health plans. This might be foreshadowing even worse decisions to come.
This is pretty obvious, but as far as I can see all of Trump's appointees are an attempt by him to not only establish a pseudo-dictatorship but a massive echo chamber as well. Every choice, from the anti-IRS IRS leader to the planning of DOGE to Robert F. Kennedy is so clearly a "if you agree with me you get a place in government" that it's crazy they haven't been called out as quid-pro-quo. I'm honestly shocked that like all of these people haven't yet been outright refused by congress for their total ineptitude when it comes to the job they are expected to run. Only the economics and management sector of his cabinet seems to contain even the least bit qualified personnel, and if Trump gets his way, I think this country is in for a massive spiral downwards.
Trump nominating RFK Jr. for the Department of Health sounds like the punchline to a bad joke. Who gets to make decisions about the entire nation's health and healthcare plans? The pseudo-science supporter with a brainworm! Because of his ability to be controlled and his loyalty to Trump! I truly fear for the future if the people who want to focus on how water fluoridation is a breach of individual liberties are going to dictate how our nation perceives what is healthy. I do wonder what RFK's actual policies are, I haven't heard much about what he actually plans to do once in office, because while I may not be happy with the turnout, it would be irresponsible to turn a blind eye and stay uninformed about the path our nation has chosen.
You’re absolutely right — Kennedy’s nomination feels more like a parody than a serious decision. His history of promoting pseudoscience, combined with his complete lack of leadership experience, makes it hard to imagine him managing the DHHS effectively. What concerns me most is how his appointment could undermine trust in vital health agencies like the CDC and FDA, which are already struggling to regain credibility post-pandemic.
I also agree with your point about staying informed. While Kennedy’s past statements give us every reason to worry, understanding his specific policies (if they exist) will be crucial in anticipating the direction he might take the department. What do you think would be the most damaging changes he could make if confirmed, and how might Congress or public health advocates push back against them? This nomination is a test of the Senate’s ability to prioritize qualifications over loyalty, and I can only hope they do the right thing.
Donald Trump nominating Robert F Kennedy to lead the Department of Human Services in my opinion just feels like a huge mistake because of Kennedy's history of misinformation spreading about vaccines especially between HIV and AIDS I feel like this will just continue to promote more wild conspiracies. like with covid 19 as well, with a budgetthis big, I feel like there's a huge responsibility it's alarming to think someone so unqualified could lead such an important department. Public Health isn't something that we should be gambling with because this decision is going just to put too many people at risk
RFK Jr. leading the DHHS would be an absolute disaster. His track record of promoting anti-vaccine misinformation and pseudoscience should immediately disqualify him from holding a position of public trust, especially one that involves shaping policy. His lack of expertise in governance, paired with divisive and scientifically baseless rhetoric, would undermine credibility and decision-making. Appointing someone so controversial and ill-suited is a threat to both public health and the integrity of the administration. It’s baffling that Trump sees this as a serious consideration, and as other people have pointed out, it just feels like a show of who's loyal to him rather than someone who's genuinely qualified for the position. Of Trump's many questionable cabinet picks, this one might be one of the most consequential if it gets confirmed.
The pick of Robert Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services is absolutely absurd considering the things he believes in like the fluoride beliefs or the vaccine beliefs are particularly damning. But that being said it is in no way surprising to me as this I just another case of Donald trump choosing people that he likes, that will listen to him and people that are willing to be loyal to him. As throughout most of his cabinet picks he has been choosing people that are obviously not the best pick but they usually have been on his side like with Kash Patel. It also seems that as trump goes on is further pushing to the extremes to find refugee as more and more people that were for him in 2016 or 2020 are not for him any more thus pushing him to chose people like RFK that have quite extreme beliefs as these are the people that will still support and listen to him.
It really says a lot that 75 Nobel Prize winners agreed on Kennedy not being qualified. It's absurd that someone with no prior medical or health-related experience can be nominated to lead the NHHS. The fact that he opposes such widely accepted and proven medical practices, like vaccines and fluoride in water, just highlights that he is far from a medical professional. I think a lot of the reason he was able to get this far in politics is the Kennedy name, which gives him a platform. But despite the boost this name has undoubtedly given him, it's ironic that his whole family has distanced themselves from his political beliefs, and denounced his decision to support Trump.
It's so confusing sometimes to read the news. The other day I saw RFK Jr. saying heroin made him a good student and I was like "What?" and that's the same way I feel when I see him saying that coronavirus is racially targeted or that vaccines cause autism. I kind of feel like I'm living in the Simpsons or something. It's unfortunate because he has a massive amount of influence. Like, there are probably real Americans who hear what he says and start to believe it more than well-established medical truths, which is especially troubling considering the social implications of some of this stuff. Like, saying that Jewish and Chinese people are resistant to Covid-19 is not just baseless, it's bigoted, much like Trump's recent eating-the-dogs comment that resulted in racism and threats despite being fact-checked and proven wrong. His track record with campaign debt/inexperience with the important office he's about to take on don't inspire confidence. I'm trying not to die from mad cow disease or polio in the year 2025, so I hope RFK Jr. is better and more reasonable in office than he seems to be in the headlines.
It's another pattern by Trump appointing officers based on whether they are loyal to him rather than merit based. Obviously, this guy is not fit for the job considering his past mistakes and unawareness. As seen by the other blogs, Trump doesn't seem to care about the quality of the officers and only pays attention to whether they are loyal to him or not. This is extremely dangerous as we cannot leave important positions such as the DHHS in the hands of unqualified people. As mentioned in the post, the DHHS is not just a government department it is responsible for nearly $2 trillion in federal Health programs, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. Given his past of failures of going $4.5 million in debt, there is no way we can let him take the job. The Senate should absolutely reject his nomination.
This nomination is seriously concerning and shows just how important it is to have genuinely qualified people in charge of public health. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s track record of spreading vaccine misinformation goes against everything the DHHS stands for. With so much responsibility—managing programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the CDC—it’s wild to think someone with no real managerial experience and a history of rejecting science could be considered for this role.The Senate needs to step up and do their job here. This isn’t about politics anymore, it’s about protecting public health and keeping the DHHS credible. Rejecting this nomination would make it clear that public health leadership has to be based on science, not conspiracy theories or dangerous rhetoric.
This nomination made by Trump is completely insane, but not surprising at all, this is such Donald Trump behavior. The warning from 75 Nobel prize winning laureates is such a huge red flag and the fact that Trump doesn’t care about anything speaks about the future of the US. Trump truly doesn’t care about the American people but wants things that will only benefit him. As head of the DHHS, Kenedy would have to oversee agencies like the FDA, CDC, and NIH, these organizations all play a pivotal role in the health of all people who live in the US. But Kenedy does have a pattern of questioning scientific research like vaccines and policies which brings great concern over our future. Kennedy doesn’t look at the facts and scientific research, he makes everything up in his mind. He clearly shows this through his saying that vaccines cause autism and how some races are immune to COVID. His lack of experience of course can’t be overlooked, this man doesn’t have experience whatsoever, and the fact that he’s in debt because of his campaign only proves that he isn’t the right person for this big role.
The fact someone who blatantly opposes science can be appointed by a president who also has been known to blatantly disagree with science really says a lot about our country as whole. I would also be willing to bet some of the 75 laureates are republicans and the fact this many award winning laureates are warning us certainly says just as much as the pick itself. I have serious concerns for the next 4 years and question whether we will get through without regress. Kennedys lack of experience as well as past remarks and misinformed statements could quite possibly make him the worst possible canidate for this role
I am relieved that its looking like RFK Jr. looks like he won't be the pick for the Department of Health and Human Services. A reason Trump may have nominated him was to attract some anti-vax/coronavirus conspiracy theorist to the Republican vote. I assumed those types of voters were already leaning Republican but I can't see another explanation for Trump's RFK nomination. Similar to other Trump nominations, he isn't afraid to nominate the most controversial option despite that reflecting badly on his campaign. I am interested to see who the pick will end up being, probably a RFK Jr. type with some more moderate opinions.
I think that this nomination is very alarming. Kennedy has had a very long history of promoting anti-science views that have done significant damage to public health especially during the pandemic. His claims such as linking vacccines to autism is very concerning and should make anyone question his lead in the Department of Health and Human Services. The volume of credible people who are speaking out against his leadership is very alarming especially since these are the people who understand the importance of science shaping public health. Putting Kennedy in charge for this department will jeopardize public health and affect US global standings in research. I think that the Senate should reject this nomination in order to protect public health
I think this nomination reveals the extent to which Americans are struggling with trusting experts and science. Not only is he not qualified, but the fact that people are accepting of this is concerning to me. He has allowed the spread of health misinformation and is now a position where he could influence national health policy. I think the issue of loyalty and choosing figures such as RFK Jr. to lead such institutions reveals the acceptance of adhering to political bias and power, rather than qualifications. This is something happening frequently in Trump's nominations, and I think it could really hurt the way we as people of the nation make decisions for the government.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services raises serious concerns. His history of spreading misinformation, particularly about vaccines and public health, makes him an inappropriate candidate for a role overseeing critical health agencies like the CDC and FDA. With a budget of nearly $2 trillion and responsibility for vital programs like Medicare and Medicaid, the leader of DHHS must have a proven track record in public health management, scientific credibility, and an understanding of evidence-based practices. Kennedy’s past actions suggest he lacks these qualifications, and his leadership could undermine public trust in health initiatives and the U.S.’s global standing in health science. It’s crucial for the Senate to carefully consider these factors and reject this nomination to protect the health and well-being of the nation.
I am concerned by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 's nomination. Just this morning, some senate Republicans created a caucus "Make America Healthy Again" in order to promote his plans. Their usage of a human right to health as a political tool for gain is seriously terrifying, setting a very dangerous precedent that government is no longer for the people, but for the politicians, especially under the shadow that everyone knows that he is unqualified and dangerous for the department.
Mia Thurrell
The nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr is extremely concerning. Based off past history of circulating misinformation regarding public health shows that he is not a qualified candidate for the position in any way, shape, or form. With the amount of power and resources a position like the one he was nominated for has, it is important that the candidates are fully qualified and have shown in the past their qualifications to have such power. The American people should be able to put their trust into candidates, and no one would put their trust into him. Nominating someone like him for such a high powered position especially it being something as crucial as public health, is a threat to public safety.
At least if he is nominated and completely destroys the health of our nation people will finally realize just how horrible this upcoming administration is! But I’m not so sure if people would even know or care about him doing a horrible job. They didn’t care when Donald Trump started an insurrection. News outlets managed to construe the current state of the economy as constantly going downhill, even though inflation was lower than average. It's just so hard to know what will be more important to people than the MAGA dream.
I think a lot of things rely on the senate now that Trump keeps on nominating unreasonable people with untrustworthy backgrounds. The second term for Trump has not even started and is already causing all of the commotion, with every day some kind of news about Trump making an absurd nomination. I fear that once the term starts, Trump will utilize his executive power to the extreme and cause a lot of disasters.
Adding on to Kennedy's concerns about the Food and Drug Administration, he has a very strong agenda against highly processed foods. While this may be a good thing in some ways, the ways that he goes about it are very misleading. He has linked these ultra-processed foods with mental disorders and diseases such as cancer with basically no evidence to back himself up. While improving diet will likely lead to less people developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes, there is no direct link between having some processed foods and a healthy diet. If ultra-processed foods are lessened/banned as he wants them to be, food will likely become more inaccessible to lots of people who cannot afford organic foods. This could end up being even more dangerous than the effects that processed food potentially have on Americans. I think Trump's nomination of Kennedy as the head of the DHHS is a very poor choice, and should be rejected by Congress.
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