RFK Jr. Nominated as HHS Secretary, Promises Overhaul of FDA Practices

President-elect Trump selects Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead Health and Human Services, signaling potential shifts in public health policy and agency-industry relations.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic and critic of public health institutions, has been nominated by President-elect Trump as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy aims to address perceived corruption and conflicts of interest between the FDA and the pharmaceutical and food industries, targeting practices like the 'revolving door' between regulators and industry.
He has suggested reforms to the FDA's drug approval process, including reducing reliance on accelerated pathways and emergency use authorizations, while emphasizing randomized controlled trials as a 'gold standard.'
Kennedy and Trump’s FDA commissioner nominee, Marty Makary, share a focus on addressing chronic diseases and overmedication in the U.S., with Makary also advocating for reduced dependence on pharmaceuticals.
The nomination raises questions about the future of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, which funds nearly half of the FDA's budget but is criticized by Kennedy for fostering industry influence.