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Trump Promises RFK Jr., an Anti-Vaccine Activist, Control Over Federal Health Agencies

Oct 31, 2024, 02:57 PM

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that former President Donald Trump has asked him to lead the reorganization of federal health agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and parts of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), if Trump wins the presidency. Kennedy, known for his anti-vaccine views, said Trump wants him to "clean up the corruption" in these agencies and reduce chronic disease rates, particularly in children, within two years. Trump transition co-chair Howard Lutnick confirmed having a 2.5-hour meeting with Kennedy and mentioned on CNN that Kennedy hopes to gain access to federal health data to show vaccines are unsafe and have them pulled off the market. Lutnick also expressed skepticism about vaccine safety, suggesting a link between vaccines and autism. Public health experts have expressed alarm over the potential appointment of Kennedy, citing concerns about his anti-vaccine stance and the implications for vaccine access and research. Critics warn that such a move could undermine public health initiatives and erode trust in established science. Trump, during recent rallies, stated that Kennedy would "work on health and women's health," further indicating Kennedy's potential role in a future administration. Trump has also adopted the slogan "Make America Healthy Again," emphasizing health priorities in his campaign. The Trump campaign, however, has not formally confirmed these plans.