Seventy-seven Nobel laureates signed a letter urging the Senate to oppose the affirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to guide the Division of Well being and Human Companies (HHS), The New York Instances reported Monday.
Within the letter, the 77 Nobel laureates in drugs, chemistry, physics and economics mentioned they’ve considerations about Kennedy’s lack of “relevant experience” and about a number of the public positions he has taken.
“In addition to his lack of credentials or relevant experience in medicine, science, public health, or administration, Mr. Kennedy has been an opponent of many health-protecting and life-saving vaccines, such as those that prevent measles and polio; a critic of the well-established positive effects of fluoridation of drinking water; a promoter of conspiracy theories about remarkably successful treatments for AIDS and other diseases; and a belligerent critic of respected agencies (especially the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, and the National Institutes of Health),” the letter learn.
“The leader of DHHS [Department of Health and Human Services] should continue to nurture and improve — not threaten — these important and highly respected institutions and their employees,” the letter continued.
President-elect Trump’s nomination of Kennedy has sparked concern amongst some Democrats and public well being figures, who say they fear Kennedy may meddle with key authorities businesses, amplify vaccine hesitancy, and direct company funding to favor his most well-liked views.
If confirmed, Kennedy would lead the division that oversees 13 separate businesses, has a finances of almost $2 trillion and administers federal well being packages together with Medicare, Medicaid and the Inexpensive Care Act. The HHS and its subagencies are answerable for responding to illnesses and public well being threats like COVID-19 and fowl flu, in addition to approving new medication, together with vaccines.
Kennedy is the founding father of some of the outstanding anti-vaccine teams within the nation and has promoted the debunked declare that childhood vaccines trigger autism. He additionally mentioned not too long ago he needs to get rid of fluoride from the nation’s ingesting provide, elevating considerations for well being officers who contemplate including the mineral chemical a significant development to preserving tooth.
Kennedy has been a vocal critic of a number of the businesses he seeks to supervise. He has mentioned federal well being regulators are “sock puppets” held captive by trade particular pursuits and has vowed to purge whole departments on the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) to root out corruption.
In October, Kennedy mentioned in a submit on social platform X that the FDA’s “war on public health is about to end,” including, “If you work for the FDA and are part of this corrupt system, I have two messages for you: 1. Preserve your records, and 2. Pack your bags.”
“In view of his record,” the Nobel laureates wrote within the letter, “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, in both the public and commercial sectors.”
The Hill has reached out to the Trump crew for remark.
