(Courtesy of Getty Images) “RFK Jr.”
Conor Moyer
Connector Editor
Amongst the string of nominations that President-elect Donald Trump has proposed for his coming administration, one in particular has both bewildered and worried health experts nationwide: the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy, a scion of one of America’s most prominent political families, is perhaps better known today for his vocal opposition to vaccines and promotion of conspiracy theories than for any public health or administrative expertise. If sworn in as secretary, RFK Jr. would have top authority over preparing and responding to any health emergencies the nation may face, as well as the advisor to the president on health and welfare matters. As secretary, he would also have power over the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institute of Health (NIH), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The announcement has drawn sharp criticism across the political spectrum and raised troubling questions about the direction of U.S. health policy. At UMass Lowell, students have expressed dismay over what many consider a profoundly unqualified choice.
“I heard he’s a wacko,” said Tristin Henson, a biology student. “He doesn’t believe in vaccines and claims that they cause autism, so I assume he’s a little crazy.” Pumpkin St. Pierre, another student, critiqued the administrative process as a whole, saying, “The system has always been flawed in allowing people who aren’t experts in their fields to lead those fields… Someone who doesn’t understand vaccinations has no business overseeing the nation’s health. It’s ridiculous that this is even allowed.”
Kennedy’s skepticism about vaccines is well documented. He has promoted the theory that vaccines cause autism, stating in a 2023 Fox News interview with Jesse Waters, “I do believe that autism comes from vaccines.” This claim, which Kennedy has frequently repeated, has been rejected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and countless studies over the past two decades. Dr. David Elliman, a consultant in community child health, reacted to Robert Kennedy’s assertion. Telling BBC News, “RFK Jr. has perpetuated myths around vaccination with an utter disregard for the evidence. Vaccination has probably saved more lives and is better researched than most if not all, aspects of healthcare. RFK Jr. could set this back and be responsible for the death and disability of myriads of people, particularly children.” He continued, “If he is appointed and continues in the same mode, I fear not just for the program in the U.S. but similar programs around the world and for healthcare in general. Over the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy had also promoted a conspiracy theory that a “vaccine cartel” had fabricated fake studies showing the substances ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine as ineffective in fighting COVID-19 to sell more vaccines. This claim was made in his book Real Anthony Fauci: Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health. Kennedy has also proposed that the U.S. government planned the COVID-19 pandemic.
“How did we get here? This is buffoonish,” says St. Pierre, “To base public health policy on something you read on Facebook—it’s absurd.”
Kennedy’s track record extends beyond vaccine skepticism. He has advocated removing fluoride from drinking water. Posting on X, “Floride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, none cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease…the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water…President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump want to Make America Healthy Again.” An August 2024 report by the National Toxicology Program under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concluded that “higher levels of fluoride exposure, such as drinking water containing more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter, are associated with lower IQ in children.” The Cleveland Clinic and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, however, maintain the safety of the mineral. Both institutions say mineral fluoride prevents tooth decay by remineralizing tooth enamel. The Cleveland Clinic does acknowledge that fluoride “can be harmful in large quantities” though “it’s difficult to reach toxic levels.”
Both students expressed concerns about the broader implications of Kennedy’s appointment. “Public trust in science is going to take a hit,” Henson said. “Programs that save lives, like vaccines or Medicare, could be at risk. It’s really concerning.”
Kennedy’s nomination is emblematic of a more significant trend in Trump’s recent picks for his administration, showing a focus on ideology and loyalty rather than on credentials. For students like Henson and St. Pierre, his appointment isn’t just an anomaly; it’s a sign of what’s to come.
When the Senate debates Kennedy’s fitness for the role, the stakes for the nation’s health could hardly be higher. His confirmation—or rejection—will set the tone for how science and public policy intersect in a polarized America. For now, many on campus are left wondering how a man so at odds with established science could be entrusted with safeguarding the nation’s health.
