Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of Brown University's School of Public Health, warned against President Trump's nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the pivotal role of Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), deeming it an "extraordinarily bad choice for the health of the American people." Echoing these concerns, Dr. Carlos del Rio, Executive Associate Dean of Emory School of Medicine & Grady Health System, lamented the decision, stating, "I was worried we could go low, but not this low."

Trump, who had hinted at empowering health skeptics in the realms of health, food, and medicine, sent shockwaves through the public health community with Kennedy's official selection. This decision raises alarm bells regarding potential impacts on vaccination rates, research into infectious diseases, and the distortion of established scientific truths.

"Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies," Trump stated, accusing them of "deception, misinformation, and disinformation" in public health matters. He emphasized the HHS's role in safeguarding Americans from harmful substances, including chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives, which he claims have contributed to a health crisis.

Public health advocates were unequivocal in their criticism. Robert Weissman, Co-President of Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy nonprofit, stated, "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a clear and present danger to the nation's health. He shouldn't be allowed in the Department of Health and Human Services, let alone lead the nation's public health agency."

Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, expressed his concerns about Kennedy's "pseudoscience" and the potential devastation to public health under a Trump administration. Osterholm, a "nonpartisan public health soldier" who has served in health policy roles since the Reagan era, warned of a policy-driven public health catastrophe.

Kennedy, in his statement following the announcement, expressed eagerness to collaborate with HHS employees to liberate public health agencies from "corporate capture" and to eradicate corruption. He pledged to provide transparency and access to data, enabling Americans to make informed health choices for themselves and their families.

However, Kennedy's past statements, including his broadside against the FDA and his promotion of anti-vaccine misinformation, have put healthcare professionals on edge. His advocacy for removing fluoride from water supplies, despite its proven benefits in preventing tooth decay, further underscores his controversial stance.

While Kennedy has moderated some of his vaccine-related rhetoric, focusing on chronic disease prevention and improving food access, many public health experts remain skeptical. They note that public health agencies already disclose vaccine safety and efficacy data, and question Kennedy's eleventh-hour attempts to rebrand himself.

In the realm of food policy, Kennedy has found some resonance with health experts through his calls for fixing the food system, addressing diet-related chronic diseases, and eliminating conflicts of interest between industry and government. However, the effectiveness of these proposals remains to be seen, especially considering the Trump administration's track record on public health.

The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary has undoubtedly stirred a tempest within the public health community, with the potential to reshape the nation's approach to health, science, and policy in unprecedented ways.