Seventy-seven Nobel prize winners on Monday despatched an beginning letter to the US Senate opposing the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s different for Secretary of Health and Human Companies (HHS), citing his “lack of credentials” and anti-vaccine beliefs.
“In seek of his characterize, inserting Mr. Kennedy in tag of DHHS would save the general public’s effectively being in jeopardy,” concludes the letter signed by 77 Nobel recipients in medication, chemistry, physics and economics.
Among the signatories is Drew Weissman, who got the 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work on increasing mRNA vaccines, which was as soon as a most well-known step forward in the battle in opposition to Covid-19.
Kennedy, a nephew of assassinated US president John F. Kennedy Jr, made his have White Condominium urge earlier this year sooner than throwing his give a enhance to at the back of Trump.
In return, Trump has tapped him to oversee the fragment of the executive division in tag of effectively being and medicine — though his selection ought to be licensed by a majority of the US Senate, as outlined by the Constitution.
An environmental licensed professional by commerce and not using a medical background, Kennedy has spent years professing conspiracy theories linking vaccines and autism, and most currently unfold misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines.
He has acknowledged if he is confirmed for the gap he’ll work to rob away fluoride from tap water in the US, with out reference to its addition being belief to be a most well-known victory in opposition to micro organism causing enamel decay.
“As well to his lack of credentials or relevant expertise in medication, science, public effectively being, or administration,” the letter reads, “Mr. Kennedy has been an opponent of many effectively being-conserving and existence-saving vaccines, such as folks who prevent measles and polio.”
“We strongly urge you to vote in opposition to the affirmation of his appointment,” the letter acknowledged.
Kennedy is diagram from the perfect Trump cupboard nominee to rush controversy.
Among the most necessary is Pete Hegseth, a Fox Data anchor tapped to book the Department of Protection, who has seen his nomination derailed with sexual assault allegations and rumors of excessive ingesting.
And Trump’s first pick for Prison professional Frequent, inclined US Congressman Matt Gaetz, withdrew after further scrutiny emerged of alleged sexual household he had with a minor.
