1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination for secretary of Health and Human Services raises grave concerns due to his promotion of unfounded claims about vaccines and questioning of proven public health measures. As an environmental attorney with no medical background, he lacks the qualifications to lead the nation's top health agency responsible for overseeing food and drug safety, disease control, and health insurance programs impacting millions of Americans. Kennedy's well-documented anti-vaccine stance and spreading of misinformation about a link between childhood vaccines and autism directly contradict established science and could undermine public trust in immunizations that have saved countless lives. His opposition to fluoridation of drinking water and other science-based policies further demonstrates an alarming disregard for mainstream expert consensus on public health issues. With the immense responsibilities of the HHS secretary role, having someone who rejects medical evidence and entertains fringe conspiracy theories at the helm would be extremely dangerous. Kennedy's controversial views have already drawn opposition from prestigious scientific bodies like 77 Nobel laureates urging the Senate to reject his nomination. Putting the health of all Americans at risk by installing an anti-science ideologue is unacceptable. I urge you to carefully examine Kennedy's long record of embracing pseudoscience over facts and reject his nomination to protect the integrity of our public health system and the wellbeing of the nation. The HHS deserves qualified leadership committed to evidence-based policymaking, not someone peddling baseless skepticism of vaccines and other proven measures. Please put public health over partisan politics on this critical issue.