Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Nominated to Head U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has vowed to tackle America’s "chronic health epidemic" and "Make America Healthy Again." As part of this national health initiative, Kennedy has argued that bringing new levels of transparency to the federal government is crucial. However, during his confirmation hearing this week, Kennedy failed to provide clear answers to several key questions.

Transparency and Equivocations

During the hearing, Kennedy refused to answer basic questions about various subjects, including:

• Whether he would support bans on abortion medications, such as mifepristone
• Whether he believed school shootings were caused by antidepressants
• Whether he would support making cuts to Medicaid
• Whether he would support extending set-to-expire tax credits that have allowed low-income Americans access to healthcare

In all of these instances, Kennedy preferred equivocations to definitive answers. However, there was one question that Kennedy was able to answer with relative certainty: "Is healthcare a human right?" Bernie Sanders asked the nominee, at one point. The answer was simple: No. Kennedy stated that healthcare was not a human right, but rather a service that should be provided through market-based approaches.

Medicare Advantage and Privatization

Kennedy also expressed support for Medicare Advantage, a partially privatized version of Medicare that has been widely criticized for being more difficult to use and providing less coverage. "We need to listen to what people prefer to be on," Kennedy said. This stance is ironic, given the public outcry against Medicare Advantage plans, which have been characterized by patients as "shitty" and entrapping.

Project 2025 and Trump’s Policies

The project that helped Trump get elected, Project 2025, has a plan for the HHS that aims to push Americans into Medicare Advantage plans, which would be a boon to private insurance companies. The project also suggests instituting work requirements for Medicaid recipients, abolishing the Head Start program, and aggressively going after abortion access. These policies would generally work to undermine the public sector’s role in healthcare administration.

Conclusion

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has raised concerns about his commitment to transparency and his willingness to support policies that benefit private interests over the public good. As the nation’s most important health agency, the HHS must prioritize the health and well-being of all Americans, not just those who can afford to pay for healthcare.