Since being appointed by President Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made a lot of unprecedented decisions while running the Department of Health and Human Services. Indeed, America’s newest health czar has largely thrown out all common wisdom when it comes to stuff like vaccines and whether you need a medical background to run the CDC.
Kennedy has rolled out countless bizarre and harmful policies at the HHS over the past year, including attacks on the agency’s vaccine program. Earlier this year, under his supervision, the agency fired thousands of staff. More recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saw many prominent staffers (including its director) step down in protest of Kennedy’s policies.
As a result of RFK Jr.’s bizarre behavior and policy decisions, a large number of health professionals have publicly criticized him and called into question the legitimacy of his leadership. The latest voices to express concern are six former U.S. Surgeons General, who penned an op-ed published in the Washington Post on Tuesday. The article warns that Kennedy’s policies pose a “profound, immediate and unprecedented threat” to the nation, and that the HHS head is putting at risk. The letter reads:
Over recent months, we have watched with increasing alarm as the foundations of our nation’s public health system have been undermined. Science and expertise have taken a back seat to ideology and misinformation. Morale has plummeted in our health agencies, and talent is fleeing at a time when we face rising threats — from resurgent infectious diseases to worsening chronic illnesses. The letter continues: