RFK Jr. nomination disturbs health scientists

Life sciences research in the US could look very different come 2025 if Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former independent presidential candidate and noted vaccine conspiracy theory peddler, takes the helm of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). President-elect Donald J. Trump nominated Kennedy to the Cabinet position on Nov. 14. Kennedy will need Senate confirmation to become HHS secretary; the Senate will have a Republican majority in January. HHS oversees several subagencies that either fund or regulate the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, as well as health research and policy more broadly. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services handles federal insurance reimbursement and negotiates with manufacturers on drug pricing. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves new drugs and regulates food products. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , the nation’s largest public health agency, formally recommends vaccines and treatments based on age