This week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has significantly restricted outgoing communications, travel, and grant reviews across its agencies. This move has impeded critical research, including by preventing NIH researchers from acquiring necessary supplies for clinical trials. Additionally, the Trump administration has curtailed funding for global HIV initiatives under PEPFAR and initiated a withdrawal from the WHO. Amid these changes, public health advocates are mobilizing against the nomination of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the top health official, highlighting the rejection of scientific recommendations by the current administration.
"Right now, it sort of feels like we are drinking from a fire hose, and I know that a lot of that is the intention of the administration," said Darya Minovi, a senior analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
"We have just seen a complete rejection of science," she said.
An ad-hoc coalition of public health workers, researchers and patient advocates called Defending Public Health has circulated a letter with more than 700 signatures calling on senators to vote down Kennedy's nomination.
Liberal-leaning advocacy groups like Protect Our Care are also activating to oppose the Kennedy nomination.
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