Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) spoke out on President-elect Trump’s recent decision to tap environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), calling the former presidential candidate a “fringe conspiracy theorist.”
Murray released a statement Friday morning in response to the appointment, citing Kennedy’s history as an anti-vaccine advocate to back up her criticism.
“There is no telling how far a fringe conspiracy theorist like RFK Jr. could set back America in terms of public health, reproductive rights, research and innovation, and so much else,” she said in the statement. “The consequences here are not theoretical or superficial — health care access, coverage, research, and public health are life or death issues for people — and the COVID pandemic was an all too recent, all too painful reminder.”
“Confirming RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary would be nothing short of a disaster for the health of millions of families,” Murray added. “I urge my Senate Republican colleagues to join me in forcefully condemning and opposing this catastrophic nomination.”
Kennedy’s position requires a senate confirmation before he can lead the department that includes 13 agencies and a nearly $2 billion budget. Following Trump’s announcement, he vowed to be an “honest public servant” if he is ultimately confirmed to lead HHS next year.
Murray joins other Democrats and public health officials in denouncing Kennedy’s nomination to the post.
Kennedy ran an unsuccessful independent bid against President Biden before suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump. He was heralded by the president-elect in his announcement Thursday.
“I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS),” Trump posted Thursday afternoon on Truth Social. “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health.”
“Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!” he added.
Kennedy wasn’t the only controversial choice that could test Senate Republicans next year, either. His tapping of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as attorney general, and appointment of tech billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new government efficiency department, has also raised eyebrows on both sides of the aisle.