A coalition of a whole bunch of scientists and medical professionals urged the Senate to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to guide the Division of Well being and Human Providers, saying his “fringe beliefs” may very well be harmful to the U.S. and the remainder of the world.
The letter, launched Monday by a bunch calling itself “Defend Public Well being,” contains greater than 700 signatories from many universities, together with public well being faculties at Yale and Harvard. The coalition argues that Kennedy is unqualified to guide the nation’s well being companies, which embody the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention and the Meals and Drug Administration.
“He has little to no related administrative, coverage or well being expertise or experience that might put together him to supervise the work of essential public well being companies,” the letter reads. “The nation’s well being division should be led by somebody who respects and believes in science — strong primary analysis, pandemic preparedness and evidence-based approaches to all circumstances that threaten Individuals’ lives and well-being and are designed to guard us from cradle to grave.”
The authors level on to Kennedy’s lengthy historical past of spreading unfounded conspiracy theories about vaccines amongst his different fringe views on water fluoridation and meals like uncooked milk.
His nomination, they proceed, is “unfathomable” even for President-elect Donald Trump, saying the person might undo years of progress growing vaccines underneath his first administration throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“His unfounded, fringe beliefs might considerably undermine public well being practices throughout the nation and around the globe,” the letter reads.
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Kennedy has spent weeks meeting with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to assuage fears about his previous remarks. Nonetheless, his affirmation just isn’t sure, given the slim Republican majority within the Senate.
The New York Occasions notes that one other massive group of Kennedy allies within the medical subject launched their very own letter in assist of his nomination final month, saying his management would “restore our nation’s well being and renew belief in our public well being establishments.”
