In Washington, President-elect Donald Trump has put together a team of medical skeptics and healthcare critics, aiming to reshape government oversight of pharmaceuticals, health initiatives, and nutritional policies.
On Tuesday evening, Trump nominated Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to take the helm at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya, known for opposing pandemic lockdowns and vaccine requirements, will lead the agency responsible for medical research in the U.S. His appointment is part of a broader trend among Trump’s nominees, who have generally voiced dissent against established COVID-19 health protocols.
Bhattacharya, along with other recent appointees, is set to play a crucial role in advancing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s expansive “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. This initiative seeks to eliminate numerous food additives from American diets, address conflicts of interest in health organizations, and promote healthier meal options in schools and other nutrition-related programs. Kennedy has been nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the NIH and other federal health bodies.
The health policy priorities under this new administration appear vastly different from Trump’s inaugural term, which largely focused on deregulating the food and drug sectors. Gabby Headrick, a nutrition researcher at George Washington University, stated, “The narrative is shifting significantly as we transition to this new Trump administration. It’s critical to tread cautiously and recognize the public health setbacks we experienced previously.”
While Trump’s selections may lack extensive experience managing large government bureaucracies, they are adept at discussing health issues in public forums. Dr. Mehmet Oz, nominated for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, spent over a decade hosting a health-related talk show and is a recognizable figure in wellness circles. Dr. Marty Makary, slated for the FDA, and Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, chosen as surgeon general, frequently appear on conservative media outlets like Fox News.
Many of these nominees share ties to Florida, paralleling other appointments by Trump. Dave Weldon, chosen for the CDC, served in Congress representing Florida for 14 years.
An overview of the nominees hints at how they may implement Kennedy’s plans to systematically reorganize the various health agencies, collectively managing a budget of $1.7 trillion and a workforce of 80,000 scientists, researchers, and healthcare professionals.
National Institutes of Health
The NIH, which operates on a budget of $48 billion, provides funding for medical research through grants awarded to scientists nationwide and conducts its own research initiatives. Bhattacharya, who is both a health economist and a physician at Stanford University, co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration. This October 2020 document argued that lockdowns were inflicting serious damage on public health. Initially propagated before COVID-19 vaccines were available, the declaration promoted the notion of “herd immunity,” advocating for normalcy for those at low risk while focusing protection on at-risk populations.
“I believe lockdowns represent the most significant public health error,” Bhattacharya remarked during a discussion panel led by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in March 2021. The Great Barrington Declaration had some supporters within Trump’s first administration despite facing severe backlash from public health experts. Dr. Francis Collins, the former NIH director, condemned it as perilous and not representative of mainstream science. Bhattacharya’s nomination will require Senate approval.
Kennedy has proposed a halt on NIH’s drug development and infectious disease research, suggesting a redirection toward chronic diseases while advocating for stricter funding guidelines to exclude researchers with conflicts of interest. He has previously criticized the NIH for insufficient focus on the alleged correlation between vaccines and autism—a theory widely discredited by the medical community.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC, located in Atlanta and supported by a core budget of $9.2 billion, is tasked with safeguarding Americans from health threats and outbreaks. Kennedy has frequently criticized the CDC and its vaccine policies, claiming corruption within the agency. His claims included that there is “no vaccine that is safe and effective” and he encouraged parents to disregard CDC vaccination recommendations for children. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has estimated that vaccines have saved over 150 million lives in the last five decades, with about 100 million of those being infants.
Decades ago, Kennedy and Weldon collaborated on various issues, with Weldon being an Army veteran and internal medicine physician prior to his congressional career. In the early 2000s, Weldon notably engaged in discussions regarding a potential link between thimerosal, a vaccine preservative, and autism. As a founding member of the Congressional Autism Caucus, he pushed for a ban on thimerosal in vaccines.
Since 2001, vaccines recommended for children 6 years and younger in the U.S. have contained either none or only minimal amounts of thimerosal, apart from the inactivated flu vaccine. Numerous studies have refuted any link between thimerosal and autism. Weldon’s voting history suggests he might support Republican initiatives aimed at downsizing the CDC, including proposals to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control responsible for addressing issues like drowning, drug overdoses, and gun-related fatalities.
Food and Drug Administration
Kennedy has been vocally critical of the FDA, which oversees the safety of medications, vaccines, and numerous other health products. With 18,000 employees, the FDA plays a significant role in public health regulation. Makary, Trump’s choice to lead the agency, is a Johns Hopkins University professor, qualified surgeon, and cancer specialist who aligns with Kennedy’s perspectives on healthcare matters.
Makary has criticized excessive drug prescriptions, the use of pesticides in food production, and the influence of pharmaceutical companies in the healthcare system. Kennedy has indicated intentions to eliminate entire departments within the FDA and has threatened to terminate employees accused of “aggressive suppression” of alternative therapies, including unproven COVID-19 treatments. Makary’s contrarian views during the pandemic included questioning the necessity of COVID-19 vaccine boosters for young children.
Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services
This agency oversees healthcare for over 160 million individuals through Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act, managing a budget of $1.1 trillion and employing more than 6,000 personnel. Should Oz be confirmed, he will be in charge of a significant agency that has been relatively overlooked by Kennedy in his public discussions.
Although Trump sought to dismantle the Affordable Care Act during his presidency, Kennedy has not yet targeted this initiative. Just recently, the Biden administration announced a plan to mandate Medicare and Medicaid coverage for weight-loss medications for various obese individuals. Kennedy opposed this initiative, advocating instead for expanded insurance coverage of healthy food options and gym memberships. Trump has pledged to safeguard Medicare, insurance for seniors. Oz has expressed support for enhancing Medicare Advantage, a privately managed version of Medicare that is popular but has raised concerns regarding potential fraud.
Surgeon general
Publicly, Kennedy has yet to extensively outline his vision for the position of surgeon general. The surgeon general has limited administrative authority but can shape public health definitions and suggest interventions, such as implementing warning labels or issuing health advisories. The current nominee, Nesheiwat, works as a medical director for CityMD in New York City and has a history of appearances on various media platforms, authored a book on the influence of prayer in medicine, and promotes a vitamin supplement brand.
