More than 15,000 doctors have signed an open letter urging U.S. Senators to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. The letter, posted online by the Committee to Protect Health Care, highlights concerns over Kennedy’s qualifications and his controversial views, which many health professionals say could endanger public health in America.
The letter stresses the need for leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that prioritizes science, evidence-based medicine, and the well-being of the nation’s 336 million people. “RFK Jr. is not only unqualified to lead this essential agency — he is actively dangerous,” the letter reads. Kennedy’s promotion of anti-vaccine rhetoric and numerous conspiracy theories, including baseless claims about a link between school shootings and antidepressants, have raised alarms among healthcare professionals.
“This appointment is a slap in the face to every healthcare professional who has spent their life protecting patients from preventable illness and death,” the letter continues.
The widespread opposition comes as Kennedy meets with both Republican and Democratic senators on Capitol Hill in preparation for his confirmation hearing, though the date for the hearing has not been set. To secure confirmation, Kennedy would need support from nearly all Republican senators if Senate Democrats vote against him.
Kennedy did not respond to requests for comment on the letter. His spokesperson, Katie Miller, dismissed the backlash, calling it a “grift” by advocacy groups attempting to “bilk donors.” Miller added, “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be confirmed, and those who are undermining him will have no place at HHS.”
This letter follows a series of responses from physicians and public health groups opposing Kennedy’s nomination. One of the most vocal critics is the liberal nonprofit group Protect Our Care, which launched a campaign this week highlighting Kennedy’s controversial 2019 trip to Samoa. His trip occurred shortly before a deadly measles outbreak, which claimed the lives of 83 people, mostly children. Hawaii Governor Josh Green, a physician, also warned that Kennedy’s history of vaccine misinformation contributed to the Samoa outbreak and could jeopardize public health in the U.S. if he were confirmed as HHS Secretary.
Physicians and public health advocates have voiced their concerns in various forums. At a recent news conference, Green joined lawmakers with public health expertise in opposing Kennedy’s nomination. The event was organized by 314 Action, a political action committee focused on electing scientists.
Kennedy’s supporters, including his dedicated PAC, American Values 2024, have framed the opposition as an attempt by pharmaceutical companies to silence him and hinder his efforts to improve America’s health. However, the Committee to Protect Health Care, which opposes corporate influence in healthcare, has reiterated that their stance is motivated solely by concerns for public health.
Dr. Rob Davidson, executive director of the Committee to Protect Health Care, emphasized the importance of prioritizing patient safety. “Kennedy presents a clear and present danger,” said Davidson, a Michigan emergency room physician. “This isn’t about politics; it’s about the health of the nation.”
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