President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), marking a significant move toward reforming the country’s approach to public health.
Trump unveiled the decision in a statement he made on Thursday on X, pledging that Kennedy’s leadership will bring transparency and rigorous standards back to federal health agencies.
According to Trump, HHS under Kennedy will confront issues related to public health misinformation and the adverse effects of pollutants, pesticides, and food additives on American health.
“I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health.”
Trump emphasised the importance of HHS’s role in protecting citizens from harmful chemicals and contaminants, calling it “the most important role of any Administration.”
He noted that Kennedy’s approach would “restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research,” prioritising transparency and accountability to end what he described as the country’s chronic disease epidemic.
Kennedy, a longtime environmental advocate and outspoken critic of certain pharmaceutical practices, is expected to bring a reformist perspective to HHS, overseeing agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
As Secretary, he will also manage the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which provide health coverage to millions of Americans.
This appointment aligns with Trump’s vision to “Make America Great and Healthy Again,” promising an overhaul of health policies to focus on transparency, public safety, and the reduction of chronic diseases across the country.
Chioma Kalu
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