Trump appoints Jay Bhattacharya to lead National Institutes of Health

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a health economist known for opposing lockdowns and vaccine mandates, to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya, a Stanford professor, will collaborate with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's choice for Health and Human Services. Bhattacharya co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration, which argued against lockdowns and promoted herd immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic. His nomination requires Senate approval. Trump also named Jim O'Neill as deputy secretary of HHS, who has prior experience in the agency. O'Neill, a former HHS official and investor, will focus on improving management and transparency within the agency. He is the only appointee with previous HHS experience, contrasting with Trump's other health picks, who are primarily outsiders.