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Concerns Raised Over Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s Plans for HHS
Recent Senate hearings have revealed significant concerns about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the nominee for Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, and his intentions regarding the federal workforce. Democratic senators have voiced alarms over Kennedy’s remarks suggesting a significant shakeup within the department, potentially impacting thousands of employees.
During a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee meeting, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland addressed Kennedy directly, noting, “I was struck by your comments in our meeting last week where you made it abundantly clear to me that you intended to clean house of the professional scientists at the National Institutes of Health.” Kennedy responded by stating his goal to dismiss “the ones who are corrupt.”
Alsobrooks raised concerns about the existence of targeted lists for removals, referencing a conservative group that has developed a list for certain federal employees. Kennedy responded that he was unaware of any similar lists for HHS employees.
Further highlighting his intentions, Sen. Mark Warner from Virginia revealed that Kennedy had stated he plans to eliminate around 2,200 positions in HHS. Though Kennedy committed to not firing anyone who is effectively performing their duties, he later implied that his judgment would dictate what constitutes effective performance, suggesting that those with differing views on vaccines might be particularly vulnerable.
Kennedy has a history of spreading misinformation regarding vaccines, yet he has recently expressed a desire to “restore trust” in the vaccine program. He stated, “If we want uptake in vaccines, we need a trustworthy government,” underlining the need for a more credible approach in public health initiatives.
Notably, Kennedy has previously indicated a desire to remove federal personnel whose research conclusions clash with his views. However, civil service protections are designed to shield employees from arbitrary dismissal, raising questions about how he might implement such changes if confirmed.
Kennedy acknowledged the necessity of retaining experts at the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fulfill his public health objectives. He remarked, “Much as I’ve criticized certain industries and agencies, President Trump and I know that most of the scientists and experts genuinely care about American health.”
He also asserted during his testimony that he would refrain from imposing personal beliefs on HHS policies, stating, “I am not going to go into HHS and impose my preordained opinions on anybody at HHS.”
However, senators during the hearings pointed out Kennedy’s apparent lack of basic knowledge regarding HHS functions. For instance, Sen. Maggie Hassan challenged him on Medicare Part A, prompting a correction on its true purpose, which is to provide coverage for inpatient hospital care for seniors. Furthermore, when questioned by Sen. Bernie Sanders about the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, Kennedy expressed uncertainty about its impact on saving lives, which Sanders criticized as troubling given the established scientific consensus.
In 2022, the National Institutes of Health reported that the COVID vaccine was responsible for preventing an estimated 14.4 million deaths in just one year, a fact that underscores the vaccine’s critical role in public health.
Senate HELP Chairman Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a medical doctor, concluded the hearing stating he remains ambivalent about Kennedy’s nomination. Cassidy emphasized the importance of Kennedy’s stance on vaccine safety, remarking, “If you come out unequivocally vaccines are safe, it does not cause autism, that would have an incredible impact. That’s your power. So what’s it going to be? Will it be using the credibility to support lots of research articles or will it be using credibility to undermine? And I got to figure that out for my vote.”
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