Leading Medical Professionals and Experts Call Out RFK Jr.’s Dangerous Views
Last week, RFK Jr. had two disastrous hearings with Congress where he repeatedly refused to acknowledge that vaccines do not cause autism, failed to answer basic questions about our health care system, and lied to cover up his long history of pushing conspiracy theories. This is no surprise – for years, Kennedy has fueled disinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccinations that have had deadly consequences. He also doesn’t have the experience and skills to run major health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid that over 125 million Americans rely on for their health care. It is clear that Kennedy’s nomination poses a grave threat to the health and well-being of the American people. Under his leadership, more people will get sick and more people will die. But don’t just take our word for it:
Dr. Dara Kass, Emergency Medicine, Former HHS Regional Director: “As a former HHS regional director, I know firsthand the importance of what HHS does. HHS is responsible for approving medicines, overseeing vaccines, funding life-saving research, and coordinating responses — everything from pandemics to natural disasters. If RFK Jr. is put in charge of America’s health care system, healthy and immunocompromised people alike will get sick and die.” [The New York Daily News, 1/29/25]
Dr. Angela Rasmussen, Virologist: “The devastating impacts of such failures across HHS will not be limited to America, since pandemics transcend national borders. Any suppression of effective public health policy by Kennedy will exacerbate economic, agricultural, ecological, and medical ruin at home and abroad. Anywhere from thousands to millions could die as a direct result.” [Foreign Policy, 1/30/25]
Dr. Craig Spencer, Emergency Medicine: “When people tell you who they are, believe them. Despite what he said today, we know what he said over the past two decades, over the past two years, even over the past two months. We all have concerns about what he has said and what he has linked and said about the vaccines, including COVID vaccines, other vaccines that I give my children, that I recommend to other children and that have saved more lives than any other public health intervention in history.” [CNN, 1/29/25]
Dr. Neil Stone, Infectious Diseases: “RFK and his fans ‘just want to question science’ If you question something for which theres overwhelming evidence you ignore- it’s not ‘questioning the science’. It’s denying it. If you question that the holocaust happened you are not just ‘questioning history’. You deny it.” [X, @DrNeilStone, 1/30/25]
Dr. Thomas K. Lew, Hospital Medicine: “Within his first couple of weeks, President Trump is dismantling public health efforts that benefit so many Americans. I am concerned with his choice of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, and his even more outlandish choice of Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead Medicare and Medicaid. More trouble – and less sympathy for our sick – is on the way. These two have shown unserious, anti-science, anti-public-health tendencies.” [USA Today, 1/31/25]
Dr. Uché Blackstock, Emergency Medicine: “Masks off. This is biological essentialism. This is racist and wrong. RFK Jr.‘s response alone should be disqualifying for an HHS secretary.” [X, 1/31/25]
Dr. Andrea Love, Immunologist: “RFK Jr & his kids are vaccinated. Because he knows vaccines are safe & effective. Yet he makes millions of dollars causing preventable illness & death by telling other people vaccines are harmful.” [X, @dr_andrealove, 1/29/25]
Dr. Garrett Adams, Pediatrics: “Kennedy’s comments and positions reflect an anti-science attitude. He has no scientific training and he doesn’t understand or respect science. With this mindset he cannot possibly work with HHS personnel and make sound decisions for the department.” [The Louisville Courier Journal, 1/28/25]
Dr. Georges Benjamin, Internal Medicine: “He is an environmental lawyer whose training and experience is inadequate for this position. This was evident when he showed he was unprepared as a witness and unable to answer the most fundamental questions about health and health policy. This was not clever political question dodging. His answers to most questions were confusing and showed little grasp of the factual material required for this position. While the HHS secretary does not have to be an epidemiologist, the person in the position should possess the basic intellectual curiosity and drive to hit the ground running.” [STAT, 1/31/25]
Dr. Gail Ahumada, Cardiologist: “I am afraid that Kennedy’s widely publicized anti-vaccine stances may discourage vaccinations to the point that polio returns. This is a catastrophe-in-waiting.” [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/31/25]
PA State Rep. Tarik Khan, Family Nurse Practitioner: “My objection to RFK Jr.’s nomination is not about partisan politics – as an elected official, I understand that President Donald Trump should be able to nominate someone who shares his ideology. However, as a nurse practitioner, I know that when it comes to protecting people’s health, the first rule is ‘Do No Harm.’ RFK Jr. has a long track record of promoting harm. If he is confirmed, his directorship will threaten the health of the American public.” [City & State, 1/30/25]
Linda Vail, Microbiologist, Former Ingham County Health Officer: “HHS is an agency designed to “improve the health, safety, and well-being of America.” Leaving this important department in the hands of someone who opposes vaccines would put Michiganders and our fellow Americans in danger of a deadly resurgence of illnesses like polio and measles. The risk is real.” [The Gander, 1/29/25]