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Anti-Vaccine Activist RFK Jr. Says Trump Promised Him Control of HHS, CDC, FDA

Oct 30, 2024, 11:30 PM

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist, claimed earlier this week that former President Donald Trump has promised him control over several federal health agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), should Trump win the upcoming presidential election. Kennedy Jr. stated that Trump wants him to reorganize these agencies to 'clean up corruption', 'end conflicts of interest', and reduce chronic disease rates, particularly among children, within two years. He referred to this initiative as part of 'Making America Healthy Again'. Trump's transition co-chair, Howard Lutnick, confirmed meetings with Kennedy Jr. and expressed vaccine skepticism on CNN, questioning their safety and efficacy. Lutnick stated that Kennedy Jr. 'is not going to be in charge of HHS' despite Kennedy Jr.'s claims. Public health experts have expressed alarm at the prospect of Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, leading federal health agencies. The Trump campaign has not officially confirmed any appointments.