Trump appoints Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead National Institutes of Health

President-elect Donald Trump has selected Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford professor known for opposing COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates, to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This appointment highlights ongoing debates about public health policies stemming from the pandemic. Bhattacharya co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration, advocating for herd immunity and criticizing lockdowns as harmful. His nomination requires Senate approval. Trump also named Jim O'Neill as deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Bhattacharya has faced social media restrictions for his views and has been involved in legal challenges regarding free speech. The NIH, with a budget of $48 billion, supports vital medical research across the country.