Some lawmakers and public well being leaders decried the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for well being secretary by President-elect Trump.
U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., known as the selection “f—— insane.”
“The RFK as Well being Secretary appointment is f—— insane,” he wrote on X. “He’s a vaccine denier and a tin foil hat conspiracy theorist. He’ll destroy our public well being infrastructure and our vaccine distribution methods. That is going to price lives.”
Garcia’s workplace was not instantly out there for remark.
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Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks earlier than former President Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, speaks at a marketing campaign occasion Nov. 1, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Picture/Morry Gash)
In a press release posted on social media, Kennedy stated he plans to deal with a spread of points ought to he be confirmed by the Senate to guide the Division of Well being and Human Providers (HHS).
“Collectively we are going to clear up corruption, cease the revolving door between business and authorities, and return our well being businesses to their wealthy custom of gold-standard, evidence-based science. I’ll present People with transparency and entry to all the information to allow them to make knowledgeable decisions for themselves and their households,” he wrote.
Kennedy rose to prominence as a skeptic of vaccines, whereas voicing considerations about their affect.
Madhukar Pai, chair of McGill College’s World and Public Well being Division in Montreal, Canada, stated Kennedy’s appointment might be the “greatest setback to world vaccination applications since Andrew Wakefield,” referring to the British scientist who revealed analysis linking vaccines to autism that was later retracted.
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U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., speaks on the primary day of the Democratic Nationwide Conference on the United Middle in Chicago Aug. 19, 2024. (Mandel Ngan/AFP through Getty Photos)
Garcia, the previous mayor of Lengthy Seashore who served on the Home Choose Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, beforehand described Kennedy as a menace to public well being throughout a listening to.
“The truth that we’re contemplating to carry someone on with no scientific or medical credentials, who’s falsely claimed for many years that vaccines trigger autism, who has, fairly frankly, stated simply outrageous feedback about science and drugs, that this particular person would are available to intestine the NIH (Nationwide Institutes of Well being), I believe is shameful,” he stated.
“We needs to be very involved as a rustic that RFK Jr. might be put accountable for well being when he’s a vaccine denier and has precipitated nice hurt to the American public.”
Donna Shalala, the longest serving HHS secretary, known as Kennedy’s nomination “surprising.”
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Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and former President Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, shake fingers throughout a marketing campaign rally in Glendale, Ariz., Aug. 23. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Photos)
“Kennedy is an unqualified, know-nothing. He’s harmful to the well being and well-being of each American,” she stated.
Regardless of the pushback, Kennedy has supporters. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, urged Kennedy to make adjustments at HHS and the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA).
Louisiana Sen. Invoice Cassidy, a Republican, famous that Kennedy has championed points like wholesome meals and better transparency in public well being infrastructure.
“I stay up for studying extra about his different coverage positions and the way they are going to assist a conservative, pro-American agenda,” Cassidy wrote on X.
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Kennedy was beforehand thought of for a Cupboard place in 2008, when President-elect Barack Obama reportedly thought of naming him to guide the Environmental Safety Company.
