Katelyn is a student at Howard Payne University, studying public policy in the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy with a secondary major in global studies. She aspires to inform readers of major legislative, political and humanitarian activity in laymen terms, in order to supply the general public with an unbiased analysis that allows them to cultivate opinions by their own free will.
As President Donald Trump has begun a new term in the Oval Office, there are many new faces that he has brought with him. One of these being RFK Jr., who has publicized an ambitiously new agenda as he is in the running to lead the HHS. Health services and the general quality of public health is a large focal point in our present society – read below to learn about how RFK Jr. intends to institute change.
WHO IS RFK Jr.
Son of Senator RFK and nephew of former-president JFK, Robert Kennedy Jr. began his political career as an environmental attorney. He comes from a politically Democrat family although, he ran as the independent presidential candidate in 2024. RFK Jr. has had a long-lasting stance on improving the health of America and has been prompted by Trump as a candidate to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This department oversees the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). RFK Jr.’s intended reforms to the HHS, FDA and CDC are what largely carried his presidential campaign last year. However, none was forsaken upon his endorsement of Trump.
WHAT IS HIS PLAN
Kennedy has not wasted breath in criticizing the U.S. medical industry and the decline in public health. From his stark opposition to vaccines, fluoridated water, ultra-processed food and seed-oils, to his established pledge of reforming the HHS and its respective agencies, Kennedy is seen to be quite the problem-solver. His promoted initiative is to create balance between industry interests and public health goals without prioritizing the former. Above all, RFK Jr. has made it known that he intends to recenter the focus of the medical industry around curing chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, autism and other mental illnesses.
He has claimed that the chronic disease epidemic in the U.S. has driven a spike in healthcare costs. What’s more, Kennedy also believes that “Big Pharma” is guilty of maximizing profits without actually improving health in the U.S. The Peter G. Peterson Foundation stated that in 2024, health expenditures accounted for nearly 20% of the nations’ GDP. Reuters mentions that the FDA’s budget in 2024 amounted to $7.2 billion. Following this and similar data, RFK Jr. has vowed to make severe cuts to the industry’s marketing enterprise.
RFK JR.’s REPUTATION ON CAPITOL HILL
Many politicians find Kennedy’s claims to be largely controversial, particularly his moderate opinion on matters regarding abortion. As he treks through confirmation hearings for individuals who have been proposed to join Trump’s Cabinet, Kennedy is confronted by a conflicted congregation of congress members.
Governor of Hawaii, Josh Green, stated with NPR that he finds Kennedy to be a dangerous proposition to lead the HHS. Another member, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, finds that he agrees with Kennedy upon the issue of ultra-processed food, but he does not share Kennedy’s skepticism pertaining to vaccines.
HOW COULD SUCH AN AGENDA WORK?
The Senate holds the authority to approve a new head of the HHS. Though Kennedy has been suggested by the president, Trump cannot exceed the delegated powers of the Senate.
If Kennedy were granted the position, there are many possibilities as to how his agenda would unfold and to what degree his reforms would be imparted. Axios reports it is most likely that Kennedy will be able to take advantage of HHS bureaucracy to make large strides with vaccine policies, food regulations and the approval of pharmaceutical products. It is also projected that he will devotedly pursue the altering of public health funding and the HHS budget.
How capable is RFK Jr. of leading the HHS? Is there a better candidate that the Senate should consider? Is the FDA in need of such intense reform? Should Congress reevaluate the FDA’s annual budget? How have your representatives and senators acted toward this issue?
RESEARCH:
The American Journal of Managed Care
NPR
Make America Healthy Again
AP News
Brownstein
U.S. Government Accountability Office
The Guardian
NPR
John Hopkins
Axios