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.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
