Across the country, health professionals and activists have raised the alarm in response to Donald Trump nominating conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). RFK Jr. is a MAGA loyalist who will ignore the needs of the American people in order to put first the personal interests of Donald Trump and his reckless schemes to take away Medicaid from millions, repeal the Affordable Care Act, and raise prescription drug prices. For years, Kennedy has spouted dangerous anti-vaccination beliefs and spread baseless lies about fluoride in the water supply. The bottom line is that RFK Jr. is unqualified to lead HHS and radically out of step with the medical community and American people. If confirmed, he will be a disaster for our public health.
Maine Public: Medical Professionals Object to Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s Nomination.
- “Dr. Patrica Hymanson, a former Maine state representative, said Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine and lack of leadership experience concern her most. ‘Mainers deserve a leader at HHS who follows science and who is committed to strengthening healthcare policies not torching them,’ Hymanson said.”
Portland Press Herald: Public Health Advocates Rail Against Trump’s Nomination of RFK Jr. For Cabinet Post.
- “But Dr. Patricia Hymanson, a retired physician and former state lawmaker, said Kennedy has ‘embraced radical conspiracy theories’ about science and medicine. Hymanson also called out Kennedy for wanting to pause scientific research into new medications.”
- “Kennedy made an appearance in 2015 before the Maine Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee, where he repeated debunked claims about vaccines as lawmakers were debating a vaccine bill. Maine lawmakers eventually passed a bill that eliminated religious and philosophic exemptions for school-required vaccinations. Since the law went into effect, Maine’s kindergarten vaccination rates have improved and are among the best in the nation.”
FOX 23: Maine Medical Professionals Warn Against RFK Jr. Becoming Head of DHHS.
- “‘With the swipe of a pen, he could stop vaccines from coming out, he could stop research into important medications,’ Dr. Patricia Hymanson said. ‘He could stop things that have historically saved lives.’”
WGME: Maine Medical Professionals Warn Against RFK Jr. Becoming Head of DHHS.
- “Speaking Friday at Portland City Hall a group of Maine health care professionals and activists said Kennedy is “deeply unqualified” and has fringe views on vaccines and a disregard for science, making him a danger to the American people.”
WMTW: “Protect Our Care” Warns Against Nomination of RFK Jr. to Lead HHS.
- “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is Trump’s pick for the Department of Health and Human Services but the organization “Protect Our Care” believes Kennedy is a threat to American healthcare. At a press conference this afternoon healthcare professionals warned Kennedy is unqualified for the position and they say his views on several public health issues will put the nation at risk.”
WABE: Sen. Kim Jackson Joins Protect Our Care Georgia to Speak Out Against RFK Jr.’s HHS Nomination.
- “During an early morning news conference, Jackson said she had a profound obligation to speak out against the nomination. ‘This is not just a bad idea. It is a threat to the health and well-being of every Georgian and every American.’”
- “Jackson warned that with Kennedy as the nation’s top health official, it could jeopardize the future of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid. Senator Jackson also voiced concern about the department’s efforts to cure Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes and treat mental illness.”
Public News Service: Health Experts Speak Out Against RFK Jr. Leading Health and Human Services.
- “Dr. Diana Dayal, an emergency room resident physician at UCLA Medical Center and a union representative, said she’s troubled by Kennedy’s beliefs. ‘He has touted countless baseless claims time and time again that have later been contradicted by expert review,’ Dayal pointed out. ‘From his takes on vaccine development to fluoride safety, he misrepresents isolated data as conclusive and then interprets other studies incorrectly. Conveniently he then ignores vast scientific evidence and peer review that runs counter to his beliefs.’”
- “Chris Noble, organizing director for the group Health Access California, noted Kennedy once called the COVID-19 vaccine the ‘deadliest vaccine ever made.’ ‘RFK Jr. will continue to propagate medical conspiracies that further erode trust in evidence-based medicine that will result in preventable death and grave threats to public health if given a seat of power,’ Noble contended.”
Kiowa County Press: Healthcare Advocates Oppose RFK Jr.’s HHS Nomination Over Vaccine Views and Healthcare Stance.
- “Matthew Herdman, California State Director with the nonprofit Protect Our Care, says RFK Jr. has falsely linked vaccines to autism. ‘When he went to American Samoa to talk about vaccine safety there, almost immediately afterwards, there was a large measles outbreak that led to 83 Americans losing their lives. I would be terrified to see that happen, spread nationwide across our country.’”
KJZZ: Arizona Health Expert on RFK Jr. Nomination: He Uses ‘Folklore Rather Than Science.’
- “Humble says Kennedy sticks to his beliefs rather than using evidence.‘He’s got a long track record of honestly using folklore rather than science to form opinions about what he thinks should be public policy,’ he said. Humble notes Kennedy would have oversight over the government’s most pivotal health agencies, including the CDC, FDA and National Institutes of Health.”
AZ PBS: RFK Jr. Nominated as Health Secretary, Sparks Public Health Debate.
- “Will Humble, Executive Director at Arizona Public Health Association, joined “Arizona Horizon,” to discuss the ramifications of this decision.‘He [RFK] has a long track record of believing things that don’t have evidence associated with them,’ Humble said. ‘If you put a person who doesn’t believe in the scientific method and doesn’t use evidence to drive his decision making in charge of those agencies, it’s alarming.’”