Trump selects Jay Bhattacharya to lead National Institutes of Health

President-elect Donald Trump has selected Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bhattacharya, a health economist known for opposing lockdowns and vaccine mandates, will work alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's nominee for the Department of 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 reflects ongoing political debates surrounding public health measures from that time. The Senate must approve his appointment. Trump also announced Jim O’Neill as deputy secretary of HHS. O’Neill is the only nominee with prior experience in government health agencies, while other picks, including Kennedy and Dr. Mehmet Oz, are outsiders aiming to reform the system.