1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I strongly oppose President-elect Trump's selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has been one of the nation's most vocal anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists, spreading dangerous misinformation about vaccine safety and efficacy for years. Appointing him to oversee public health agencies like the FDA, CDC, and NIH would be disastrous for efforts to protect Americans from preventable diseases and promote evidence-based health policies. Kennedy has vowed to reshape vaccine safety guidelines, cut staff at agencies like the NIH, and end the "chronic disease epidemic" by eliminating supposed corporate influence and restoring a "gold standard" of research transparency. However, his anti-vaccine views fly in the face of overwhelming scientific consensus and put lives at risk by discouraging vaccination. His plans to overhaul public health institutions are concerning and threaten to undermine their critical work. I urge you to firmly oppose Kennedy's nomination during the Senate confirmation process. His fringe views on vaccines and public health make him unfit to lead HHS and jeopardize the health and safety of all Americans. We need rational, science-based leadership at HHS, not conspiracy theorists pushing anti-vaccine misinformation. Please stand up for public health and responsible policymaking by blocking this destructive nomination.