When someone with the power and influence to do so promises to try and make Americans as healthy as they can possibly be, one would think that would generate near-universal approval. But alas, that’s not the case. RFK Jr. has pledged to “make America healthy again” as part of his platform as the nominee for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The nomination has received praise from many Republican lawmakers and advocates for vaccine and food safety. However, it has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic legislators and public health officials, who have labeled Kennedy a “danger” to public health.
Kennedy’s platform as a former presidential candidate, both as a Democrat and later as an independent, focused on combating chronic disease, improving children’s health, and addressing corporate influence within government agencies. Kennedy ended his presidential campaign in August and endorsed Donald Trump, describing the decision as “heart-wrenching” but essential to furthering his mission to combat the chronic disease epidemic, he told The Epoch Times.
As part of his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, Kennedy aims to address the chronic disease crisis by tackling what he refers to as the “corporate capture” of federal health agencies and eliminating toxic chemicals from the nation’s food supply, among other goals. Trump’s decision to nominate Kennedy as Secretary of Health and Human Services has sparked intense reactions from both supporters and critics.
Donna Shalala, who served as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001, stated that Kennedy is not qualified for the role. “The nomination of RFK Jr. for HHS by President-elect Trump is shocking. … He is dangerous to the health and well being of every American,” Shalala wrote on X. But it should be noted that Shalala is a lifelong Democratic operative who served in administrative positions in the Carter and Clinton administrations, as well as academia, all her life. She has no specialized healthcare qualifications, whereas RFK Jr. has spent decades researching foods, public health systems, and other health-related topics.
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) called Kennedy a conspiracy theorist and suggested that “he will destroy our public health infrastructure and our vaccine distribution systems.” “This is going to cost lives,” Garcia wrote. Leftist Peter G. Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said in a statement that the center “opposes this nomination and any other nominees who are a direct threat to science and evidence-based solutions.” He wrote: “Nominating an anti-vaxxer like Kennedy to HHS is like putting a Flat Earther at the head of NASA.” Nother left-winger, Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, said in a statement that Kennedy “is a clear and present danger to the nation’s health” and should not be “placed in charge of the nation’s public health agency.”
But Kennedy has his backers, too — most of them Republicans. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a physician, expressed support for Kennedy on X, stating he would be the ideal person to “detox the place after the Fauci era,” referencing former NIH director Dr. Anthony Fauci. Both Kennedy and Paul have been vocal critics of Fauci’s policies on vaccines and the public health response to COVID-19. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a medical doctor, recently highlighted Kennedy’s advocacy for issues such as healthy foods and increased transparency in the nation’s public health infrastructure.
“I look forward to learning more about his other policy positions and how they will support a conservative, pro-American agenda,” Cassidy, a physician, said. Cassidy, currently the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, is expected to assume the role of chair in the upcoming Congress.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.