Trump nominates COVID lockdown critic Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as NIH director

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of COVID-19 lockdowns, as the new director of the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a professor at Stanford University and holds both a medical degree and a doctorate in economics. Trump's nomination of Bhattacharya aligns with his choice of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Together, they aim to address major health challenges in the U.S. and improve medical research standards. Additionally, Trump has nominated Jim O'Neil as deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to enhance management and transparency within the department.