Meryl Nass
When incoming United States President Donald Trump announced his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, there was palpable concern in the health community. Robert Francis Kennedy Jr., better known as RFK Jr., has a history of believing in and promoting what many would consider junk science, and funding programs and activities that promote misinformation and fuel conspiracy theories.
He has linked vaccines to autism, called the COVID-19 vaccines deadly, funded an anti-vaccine nonprofit, and called an anti-vaccine advocate a “hero.” He also cast doubts on the long-established fact that HIV causes AIDS, touting false claims by AIDS denialists.
Much of the concern around RFK Jr. focuses on how he might affect health policy domestically. But many offices and agencies within HHS also work globally, meaning there is a lot at stake for the global health community.
Global health leaders Devex spoke to said the leadership changes may pose challenges for global health and science, but how exactly remains the subject of speculation. Some had grim forecasts on U.S. leadership on global health, while others were more cautious in their comments.