More Than 700 In Public Health Call On Senate To Reject RFK Jr.’s ‘Fringe,’ ‘Dangerous’ Views

A coalition of hundreds of scientists and medical professionals urged the Senate to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, saying his “fringe beliefs” could be dangerous to the U.S. and the rest of the world.

The letter, released Monday by a group calling itself “Defend Public Health,” includes more than 700 signatories from many universities, including public health schools at Yale and Harvard. The coalition argues that Kennedy is unqualified to lead the nation’s health agencies, which include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.

“He has little to no relevant administrative, policy or health experience or expertise that would prepare him to oversee the work of critical public health agencies,” the letter reads. “The nation’s health department must be led by someone who respects and believes in science — robust basic research, pandemic preparedness and evidence-based approaches to all conditions that threaten Americans’ lives and well-being and are designed to protect us from cradle to grave.”

The authors point directly to Kennedy’s long history of spreading unfounded conspiracy theories about vaccines among his other fringe views on water fluoridation and foods like raw milk.

His nomination, they continue, is “unfathomable” even for President-elect Donald Trump, saying the man could undo years of progress developing vaccines under his first administration during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“His unfounded, fringe beliefs could significantly undermine public health practices across the country and around the world,” the letter reads.

Kennedy has spent weeks meeting with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to assuage fears about his past remarks. However, his confirmation is not certain, given the slim Republican majority in the Senate.

The New York Times notes that another large group of Kennedy allies in the medical field released their own letter in support of his nomination last month, saying his leadership would “restore our nation’s health and renew trust in our public health institutions.”