NWLC: RFK Jr. Poses a Direct Threat to Public Health
November 14, 2024 –Today, Donald Trump announced the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Kiara Pesante Haughton, vice president for campaigns and communications at the National Women’s Law Center, issued the following statement:
“Putting a promoter of dangerous public health disinformation in charge of the agency tasked with safeguarding the well-being of more than 300 million people is absolutely ridiculous. We are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, grappling with the deadly fallout from the Dobbs decision that stripped access to reproductive health care for millions of people, and are witnessing a devastating maternal mortality crisis that disproportionately impacts Black women and other people of color.
“The country needs clear, science-based solutions to these life or death challenges – not a charlatan with a long history of spreading conspiracy theories and lies. RFK Jr. poses a direct threat to public health, particularly at a time when junk science is being used to undermine access to critical medications, important treatments, and sexual and reproductive health care. He has peddled horrific ideas that, if implemented, would turn back the clock on medical and scientific advancements more than 100 years. NWLC will fight this nomination at every step.”