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“Make America Healthy Again” Trump Appoints RFK Jr. to Lead HHS

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By News Editor

November 15, 2024
12:00 am
Los Angeles, CA

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent environmental activist and vaccine skeptic, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the nation’s top health agency, as announced by Donald Trump Jr. on Thursday. Kennedy, who ran for president as an independent in 2024 before dropping out in August to endorse Trump, will now play a central role in shaping the U.S. health policy landscape. The appointment could significantly impact the future of federal health programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and public health regulation. Trump, in his victory speech on November 6, expressed confidence in Kennedy’s leadership: “He’s going to help make America healthy again. He has big ideas, and we’re going to let him get to work.” HHS oversees a vast array of health-related

Kennedy, who ran for president as an independent in 2024 before dropping out in August to endorse Trump, will now play a central role in shaping the U.S. health policy landscape. The appointment could significantly impact the future of federal health programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and public health regulation.

Trump, in his victory speech on November 6, expressed confidence in Kennedy’s leadership: “He’s going to help make America healthy again. He has big ideas, and we’re going to let him get to work.”

HHS oversees a vast array of health-related agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is also responsible for managing programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which together cover tens of millions of Americans and represent a substantial portion of the federal budget. For fiscal year 2024, HHS’s budget stands at $3.09 trillion, or nearly 23% of the total U.S. federal budget.

Kennedy’s Health Priorities

Kennedy, the son and nephew of two iconic figures in Democratic politics, has been a key member of Trump’s transition team, reviewing candidates for top health roles in the U.S. government. In recent social media posts and interviews, he has outlined his health priorities, including addressing what he calls the “chronic disease epidemic” involving obesity, diabetes, and autism, as well as reducing the number of chemicals in food.

Despite the United States’ high spending on healthcare, Americans suffer from poorer health outcomes than their counterparts in other wealthy countries, according to a 2023 report by the Commonwealth Fund.

Kennedy has also signaled intentions to overhaul agencies like the FDA, which regulates food, drugs, and medical devices, and to replace staff at the NIH. In late October, he declared that the FDA’s “war on public health is about to end,” criticizing the agency’s stance on substances like psychedelics, peptides, and stem cells.

Kennedy has also expressed opposition to adding fluoride to public drinking water, claiming it is linked to cancer and bone fractures, a claim disputed by the American Dental Association, which argues that fluoride reduces tooth decay by more than 25%.

Kennedy’s comments have extended to the pharmaceutical industry, including criticism of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic. He argued in September that addressing the root causes of obesity, such as food system reforms, would be a better approach than relying on pharmaceutical solutions.

“Make America Healthy Again” Challenges Washington

Kennedy’s health agenda, dubbed “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA), seeks to disrupt the entrenched interests of the food and pharmaceutical industries, which have long been influential in shaping U.S. health policy. His proposals, including stricter regulations on food additives, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals, could directly challenge the profits of these industries—sectors that have historically been aligned with many Republican lawmakers.

Some GOP leaders have expressed openness to Kennedy’s vision. Senators like Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have voiced support for Kennedy’s efforts to reduce corporate influence on public health and praised him as a leader who can bring necessary reforms.

However, Kennedy’s bold proposals face significant opposition from lobbyists representing powerful industry interests. The food and pharmaceutical sectors have raised concerns about the potential economic impact of Kennedy’s agenda and are actively lobbying members of Congress to ensure their interests are protected.

For now, the future of Kennedy’s health agenda rests in the balance, with key decisions expected in the coming months as the Trump administration takes shape.