Trump appoints Jay Bhattacharya to lead National Institutes of Health

President-elect Donald Trump has selected Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya, a Stanford professor known for opposing lockdowns and vaccine mandates, co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration advocating for herd immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump stated that Bhattacharya will work alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his nominee for the Department of Health and Human Services. This choice reflects ongoing political debates surrounding public health policies established during the pandemic. Additionally, Trump appointed Jim O’Neill as deputy secretary of HHS. O’Neill is the only nominee with prior government experience, while other health picks have been outsiders aiming to reform public health agencies.