1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services raises significant concerns due to his lack of relevant expertise and controversial positions on public health issues. As Nobel laureates have emphasized, placing someone with no formal scientific or administrative credentials in charge of key health agencies could jeopardize public health and undermine America's global standing in medical research and practices. Kennedy's well-documented opposition to widely-accepted preventive measures like vaccination and water fluoridation, as well as his rejection of the scientific consensus on HIV/AIDS, demonstrates a concerning disregard for established medical knowledge. His characterization of respected institutions like the FDA, CDC, and NIH as "corrupt" enterprises "captured" by the pharmaceutical industry further calls into question his ability to objectively lead and oversee these crucial bodies. The Department of Health and Human Services oversees vital programs impacting millions of Americans' healthcare and well-being. Its leadership should uphold rigorous scientific standards and evidence-based policymaking, not promote unsubstantiated conspiracy theories or fringe viewpoints that fly in the face of expert consensus. For the health and safety of the nation, I urge reconsideration of this nominee whose perspectives pose a risk to sound public health policy and practice.