Trump nominates RFK Jr. to remake healthcare.
Consider This from NPR
Deep Dive
Why did Trump nominate RFK Jr. for the Department of Health and Human Services?
Trump promised Kennedy a lead role in health and healthcare during the campaign, allowing him to 'go wild on health, food, and medicines.'
What are some of RFK Jr.'s controversial health views?
Kennedy promotes debunked claims like vaccines causing autism, fluoride poisoning public water, and AIDS not being caused by HIV.
What agencies would RFK Jr. oversee if confirmed as HHS secretary?
He would oversee the CDC, FDA, NIH, and manage nearly $2 trillion in mandatory spending.
How might RFK Jr. change health policy if confirmed?
He could scale back existing programs and refocus others to align with his 'make America healthy again' goals, potentially through policy changes and personnel shifts.
What is the potential impact of RFK Jr.'s confirmation on HHS employees?
Many employees are frightened and considering early retirement due to concerns about science being undermined and job instability.
Are any of RFK Jr.'s health stances supported by mainstream views?
Some of his stances, like reducing drug ads on TV and emphasizing chronic disease prevention, are fairly popular and mainstream.
What are the challenges RFK Jr. might face in running HHS?
He lacks a background in science, medicine, or policy, which could complicate the practical work of managing a vast bureaucracy like HHS.
What are the chances of RFK Jr. being confirmed as HHS secretary?
His chances are uncertain; while he supports abortion rights, which could be a disqualifier for conservative Republicans, his other views might find support among some factions.
- Kennedy is a science denialist who makes up his own scientific truths.
- He erroneously argues that vaccines cause autism, a claim widely debunked by scientists.
- Kennedy also claims fluoride in public water is poison and that AIDS is not caused by HIV.
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