Trump appoints COVID lockdown critic Jay Bhattacharya to lead National Institutes of Health

Donald Trump has appointed Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of COVID-19 lockdowns, to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya will work alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Bhattacharya, a Stanford professor, is known for the Great Barrington Declaration, which advocated for focused protection of vulnerable groups during the pandemic. He has previously claimed that the Biden administration pressured social media to censor his views. Kennedy plans to make significant changes at the NIH, including job cuts and a shift in focus from infectious diseases to chronic illnesses. He has expressed intentions to replace many current staff members.