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Mass. health officials, senators share concerns over RFK Jr.’s health secretary confirmation
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed Thursday as President Trump’s health secretary amidst several ethics and disinformation controversies.
Local health officials have expressed concerns over Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation as President Trump’s health secretary, including the Massachusetts Public Health Alliance (MPHA).
The MPHA said it was “gravely concerned” about Kennedy’s confirmation as Secretary of Health and Human Services in a statement Thursday after previously opposing Kennedy’s nomination.
“Mr. Kennedy’s extensive record of spreading disinformation about vaccines, HIV and AIDS, water fluoridation, and transgender health care reveals a dangerous disregard for established science and evidence-based public health measures that have saved countless lives,” the MPHA said. “During confirmation hearings, Mr. Kennedy demonstrated that he lacks the requisite training, health care management experience, ethical judgment, and basic understanding of science required to serve as our nation’s chief health official.”
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Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey had comments of their own to add on X.
Warren, who prepared almost 200 questions for Kennedy’s confirmation hearing, repeatedly asked him about ethical dilemmas such as profiting off lawsuits against drugmakers.
Warren addressed the changes that Kennedy could make to potentially benefit from these lawsuits as health secretary, including removing vaccine mandates, appointing anti-vaccine advocates to vaccine advisory panels, and altering the vaccine injury compensation program.
“Putting RFK Jr. in charge of the nation’s public health is a huge mistake,” Warren wrote in an X post.
Putting RFK Jr. in charge of the nation’s public health is a huge mistake.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 13, 2025
When dangerous diseases resurface and people can’t access lifesaving vaccines, all Americans will suffer — and RFK Jr.’s family could keep getting richer thanks to his serious conflicts of interest.
“When dangerous diseases resurface and people can’t access lifesaving vaccines, all Americans will suffer — and RFK Jr.’s family could keep getting richer thanks to his serious conflicts of interest,” Warren wrote.
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Markey wrote on X that he would do everything in his power to “hold him accountable and keep Americans safe.”
RFK Jr. has just been confirmed by the Senate. I will do everything in my power to hold him accountable and keep Americans safe.
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) February 13, 2025
Under the Trump administration, Kennedy is likely to “systematically dismantle essential public health infrastructure” and “abandon evidence-based practices,” the MPHA said in the statement.
Kennedy has come under fire for his past support of vaccine skepticism during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Kennedy cosigned a petition urging the Food and Drug Administration to revoke Emergency Use Authorization for existing and future COVID-19 vaccines.
Concerns have also arisen from Kennedy’s perspectives on water fluoridation and transgender health care.
“The health and safety of communities across the country depend on leadership that respects science, understands public health, and puts people ahead of politics and profits,” the MPHA said in the statement. “Mr. Kennedy’s confirmation represents a dangerous departure from these principles.”
The MPHA will continue working with state and local public health officials to “protect and promote the health of all residents of the Commonwealth,” the statement said.
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