Robert F. Kennedy Jr. outlines plans to reshape US health agencies if confirmed as HHS leader

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist, may soon lead the Department of Health and Human Services if confirmed. He has criticized the agency's practices and plans to reorganize it, potentially affecting its 80,000 employees and $1.7 trillion budget. Kennedy has vowed to change the FDA's approach, threatening to fire staff and overturn decisions on vaccines and food safety. He has also expressed intentions to alter CDC guidelines on fluoride in drinking water, which are currently aimed at preventing dental issues. At the National Institutes of Health, Kennedy wants to shift funding towards alternative health approaches and prevent conflicts of interest among researchers. He has not focused on the agency's healthcare coverage programs but has suggested that Medicare and Medicaid should finance healthier lifestyle options instead of expensive drugs.