1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation hearing for Secretary of Health and Human Services has raised significant concerns about his stances on critical public health issues. Kennedy has a history of making unsubstantiated claims about vaccines, including questioning their safety and efficacy, despite overwhelming scientific evidence affirming their importance. His past statements contradict his recent assertion that he supports vaccines like measles and polio. This inconsistency, coupled with his refusal to directly answer whether he considers measles deadly, raises doubts about his ability to effectively lead agencies tasked with promoting vaccination and public health. Furthermore, Kennedy's wavering position on abortion rights is highly concerning given the crucial role HHS plays in upholding reproductive healthcare access. His claim of deferring to the president's anti-abortion stance suggests a willingness to undermine established constitutional protections for reproductive choice. Such an approach could have devastating consequences for women seeking essential medical care. While Kennedy claims to prioritize safety, his penchant for amplifying fringe conspiracy theories like the notion that Lyme disease is a bioweapon calls into question his commitment to evidence-based policymaking. The public deserves leaders who will uphold scientific integrity and protect public welfare over ideological agendas or personal interests. Kennedy's confirmation threatens to severely undermine public trust in institutions charged with safeguarding the nation's health and wellbeing. For these reasons, his nomination should be rejected.